Specifically, some councillors are worried about the effect yesterday's departure announcement of policy, planning and resource management director Tanya Winter will have on the water plan changes she was overseeing.
Ms Winter has accepted the role of chief executive of the Otorohanga District Council and will start in mid-February.
This comes after the resignations of stakeholder engagement director Sian Sutton and environmental monitoring and operations director Scott MacLean earlier this month.
Chief executive Sarah Gardner continues to decline to talk about the two earlier resignations, saying they are "personal matters".
However, she was able to speak about Ms Winter as there was an agreement with her a public announcement could be made, she said.
She was "thrilled" for Ms Winter and glad she was able to find a position "suited to her talents".
Whether the three positions would be refilled or restructured was "a conversation for the new year", she said.
She was looking after Ms Sutton's role in the meantime, while Mr MacLean's was being filled by a part-time commissioner.
When asked what impact the directors' departure would have, she said the ORC was able to make "really good provisions" to ensure work continued.
Regarding how the departures might be perceived, she said people would "always draw their own conclusions".
ORC chairman Stephen Woodhead said the situation was "not ideal" but councillors would work with Mrs Gardner to ensure work continued.
Ms Winter was an "experienced employee" and the council had been aware she would be seeking chief executive roles.
Cr Graeme Bell said there was "major concern" about how the minimum flow process in priority catchments would progress with the resignation of Ms Winter.
"It has to be a major concern of the chief executive because that's a hole in that network that she's been developing with water."
Cr Ella Lawton said she was concerned about the implementation of water plan changes as well as priority catchment issues.
"Although there's a number of new policy staff in the team and they've got a good handle on things."
Cr Gretchen Robertson said while the council needed to rebuild the leadership team it had a "wonderful CEO".
"Change is hard but we need to look at results. ORC is doing more and achieving more."
Cr Michael Laws said the losses were "certainly less than ideal", a sentiment shared by Cr Trevor Kempton.
Cr Michael Deaker said he did not think the council's work would be affected.
"Staff have picked up the reins and are doing a great job."
