Council questioned on police chief hiring process

MOORESVILLE — Officials in the town of Mooresville are currently on the hunt for a new police chief after the retirement of Danny Allen earlier this year.

During the public comments portion of Tuesday’s Mooresville Town Council Meeting, council member-elect Jeff Cook asked for an update on the hiring of a new chief.

“And what your guys’ intention are as far as hiring before the end of the year?” Cook said.

Council member Dustin Stanley told Cook that the matter is an issue of the Mooresville Police Commission.

“Have you not talked to the commission?” Cook asked.

“No, and I don’t intend to because it may skew the process,” Stanley responded.

Stanley then went on to say that he was not aware the town was on a timeline to hire a new chief.

“As long as the process plays out, and it is open and fair, I think we maintain and keep that process,” Stanley said.

Police commission chairman Danny Lundy then came up to speak and reported a human resources firm the town contracted with has helped put together a process for the search.

“We have interviews scheduled,” Lundy said Tuesday night. “We have background (checks) in process right now.”

Lundy said that when the interviews are complete and background checks are in, the commission will decide on a hire and make a recommendation to the council.

“When the process is done, the process is done,” Lundy said.

Lundy noted that interviews were to take place on Friday, Nov. 22, and that the commission would not have background checks by then.

In Cook’s opinion, it is “backwards” to get background checks after the interview process.

Town councilman Mark Mathis, who Cook will replace in January, said the issue is a “police commission issue, not a town council.”

Cook then asked the council if it planned on voting to hire the next police chief before the end 2019, should the commission present the members with a choice.

“If they have it that quick, I don’t see why we hold off,” Councilman Dave Rogers responded.

Come January, Cook will join Shane Williams as new members of the council.

Three current members — Stanley, Tom Warthen and Jessica Hester — will remain on the council.

“I think that the new board should make that decision,” Cook said.

“I don’t know that you have got a brand new board, you have got new members to the board, but not a new (board). You are still going to have members from the current board there,” Rogers responded.

After Cook was done with his comments, Lundy asked members of the council if they had any questions for him.

Lundy said the HR firm that the town hired helped put together a proper job description and posting.

The firm, Lundy went on to say, also explained how to go through the proper hiring process that is compliant with both state and federal law.

Applications and resumes were all sent directly to the HR firm.

“(The HR firm) did all of the follow-ups on references and job histories and verified that was all correct,” Lundy said.

The firm then separated applicants into two tiers, and helped draft interview questions.

Commission members will be given a score sheet to grade applicant’s answers, and the HR fire will compile the sheets.

“And then we will get the background checks back, we will sit down with the final scores from the interview, and with the background checks to make sure there is no issues, and then we should have a recommendation for you,” Lundy said.

In other business

• The council approved a motion to convert one position at the Mooresville Fire Department into a civilian PERF position.

• Members of the council approved a rate hike for the town’s wastewater utility.

• It also approved for DC Metal to construct a new street department building at an estimated cost of $90,000, and a concrete option for an additional $27,750.

• The council gave local resident Kenny Johnson to move forward with connecting to the town’s wastewater utility.

• Warthen said that the town would be working on compiling a list of appointments to various boards.

The next meeting of the Mooresville Town Council is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3, at the Mooresville Town Government Center, 4 E. Harrison St.

~ Published November 22, 2019 in The Mooresville Times