Centerville officials clarify requirement in police chief search

CENTERVILLE -- City Council made quick work of several agenda items Tuesday, including clarifications regarding its search for a new police chief.

Councilman Cameron Andrews said the council corrected a slight discrepancy between the city's new chief of police job description and advertisements seeking candidates to fill the post.

"It was a minor housekeeping matter," Andrews said. "There was a slight discrepancy on the educational and experience requirements for the chief's job between the two documents and we adjusted them to match."

Andrews said the city wants applicants who have at least a bachelor's degree in criminal justice but that with certain experience, the city may not "close the door" on an otherwise qualified applicant.

Cameron said postings for candidates to head the police department have been circulating for a couple of weeks, but there is no specific timetable for when the job will be filled.

However, he said the council hopes the city hires a new chief "sooner than later."

In other business, the council:

• Approved a low bid of $27,850 from National Fence Co. to provide fencing around property on Elberta Road where the city is putting a public works facility.
  
   
• Heard from Paul Castleman, owner of Quality Southern Roofing, who sought an exception to the city's ordinance requiring the use of Centerville Sanitation Inc.'s roll-off containers at construction job sites. Castleman said for economic reasons he wanted to use his company's own dump trucks to haul off waste. Mayor John Harley said he told Castleman an exception was not possible because of "firm city contracts" with CSI.
  
   
• Heard from Harley, who read provisions from the city's personnel manual clarifying that in reporting harassment or grievances an employee had alternatives to the normal chain of command when a member of that chain of command is involved in the employee's complaint.
  
   
• Heard a personal statement from Andrews concerning "the nastiness" of the race for the Post 4 council seat in which Edward Armijo defeated incumbent Councilman Jon Nichols on Tuesday. The statement resulted in a brief, heated exchange between Andrews and Armijo supporter Geraldine Parker. Harley said he told Andrews and Parker: "This thing is between you two, so y'all solve it among yourselves."

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Centerville officials clarify requirement in police chief search ."