Proposed Charter Amendment Spurs Discussion During City Council

A proposed charter amendment, which if approved would go on the November ballot, would give the mayor the ability to hire both fire and police chiefs just like any other department head, making their positions unclassified, rather than civil service.

The topic prompted an interesting discussion at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

“I believe that the police chief and fire chief should be appointed exactly like all other department heads,” Mayor Katherine Procop said. “I believe this is a good move and it makes us more able to respond to any issues.”

“I ask the question, is this what we want to do?” Ward 2 Councilman Bob McDermott asked.

McDermott said the chiefs represent the people and doesn’t want to see them enter into politics.

“Taking the police chief and the fire chief from the civil service really puts them in the political arena,” McDermott said. “Even though they’re politically appointed, they shouldn’t have to look over their shoulder saying “Should I do this? Shouldn’t I do this?”

He spoke with both the police chief, Christopher Noga, and the fire chief, Richard Racine, and said they both didn’t have much to comment on. Both Noga and Racine had the opportunity to comment at the meeting last night, but both chose to remain neutral on the topic.

“I think to comment further, because I am a person in the current position, I don’t know if that would be fair,” Racine said.

Racine said he sat down with Mayor Procop to go over issues and suggestions he had with the new legislation.

Procop assured council that this had nothing to do with either chief, who she has the “utmost confidence in.”  

“This has everything to do with putting them on the same level as other department heads,” Procop said. “I never understood the civil service protection for those two positions.”

McDermott has spoken with other communities around the area, saying some communities have a similar situation and others don’t.

“No one’s made any positive or negative comments either way from the other communities,” McDermott said.

“Change is always difficult,” Procop said. “There’s no intent to harm here and no future intent to harm either.”

Council will vote on the amendments during the April 26 meeting.