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Police chief position to stay under Civil Service |
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Tuesday, 01 December 2009 |
City council says ‘no’ to moving position to the mayor’s oversight
BY SOPHIA ALDOUS
S-E Staff Reporter
In a close vote, the Colville City Council has voted down an ordinance exempting the position of Colville Chief of Police from the oversight of the Civil Service Commission.
Longtime Colville Police Chief, Damond Meshishnek, retires at the end of the month.
The volunteer committee of three individuals who serve six-year terms, and are re¬sponsible for testing appli¬cants to the police department on the criteria of job positions.
Depending on how many applicants are seeking a par¬ticular position, the CCSC forms a list of the candidates that are best suited for that job and presents the list to Colville’s mayor. The mayor is then responsible for choosing the most qualified applicant.
Council member Doug Kyle moved and council member Ed Gray seconded the motion to exempt the position from civil service at the recent council session. Other council members were more hesitant to adopt the ordinance.
“I see potential problems if this were to happen,” said council member Lou Janke of the motion. “I haven’t heard any reasons yet about why this would be a good idea for the city.”
In October, Mayor Dick Nichols petitioned the Civil Service Commission with a request that the police chief position be exempt from Civil Service.
The city must first pass an ordinance through the Legislature to make such a move possible.
Opening the door for problems?
“The Civil Service Commis¬sion gives the mayor a list,” said council member Nancy Foll. “It’s not like you have to pick the first name on the list. If there’s somebody already in the police department that is qualified, the mayor could ask the civil service for a list within the department and cut the cost of having to ad¬vertise externally. We (the city) could save money. I don’t see the need to take the position out of civil service.”
Kyle countered that the mo¬tion was not a judgment on the civil service system, and that even if the position was transferred to the oversight of the mayor, the council still has the authority to approve or disprove the mayor’s choice.
Colville’s Municipal Code states that if the mayor de¬cides to terminate a chief of police, four members of the city council must approve of the removal.
“I feel I represent the busi¬ness community and that as a member of civil service, I can select someone for the chief of police position that is capable of the administrative respon¬sibilities,” said Civil Service Commission Chairman Jeff Holter. “You have to make sure that there is public trust in this position, so I don’t feel there is anything to be gained by removing this position from civil service.”
Kettle Falls resident William Emily addressed the council on a personal level. He said he has been a police officer for almost 22 years and that he previously worked as the Northport Marshal.
“During that time, I was ap¬proached by individual city council members and told that certain citizens were not to be bothered and certain laws were not to be enforced,” stated Emily. “I ask that the city council consider the long- term consequences of remov¬ing the chief of police position from civil service.”
Civil Service Secretary Sue Swim said that applicants for police chief must meet many requirements for considera¬tion, administrative skills be¬ing one of them.
“The worst thing you could do to the Colville Police De¬partment is remove the Chief of Police position from civil service,” said Swim. “By making the position exempt, you are opening the door for problems.”
Mayor Nichols requested a roll call vote on the motion from council members. Eric Ohrtman, Doug Kyle, and Ed Gray voted yes. Lou Janke, Betty White, Marilyn Haney and Nancy Foll voted no.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 December 2009 )
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