07-25-1994 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO COUNCIL MEETING HELD • JULY 25, 1994 POLICE CHIEF REPORT (CONTINUED) Kelly asked if Chief Sullivan had already communicated to the officers the possibility of reorganization with three corporals. Chief Sullivan responded he had been told that it was his responsibility to submit a reorganizational plan. He understood that Council wanted to know which people would be filling the corporal roles. Kelley would have preferred to see the reorganizational plan prior to informing the officers. He suggested providing Council with the plan before any further interviewing takes place. Hurr concurred. Jabbour felt the contract cities should also be included since they have the right to be involved in a reorganizational decision. Mayor Callahan recalled that the Chief was going to make a recommendation. He agreed that there should be some discussion with the contract cities but felt that Orono was running the police department and contracting their services out so it should not matter how many corporals, etc. there were. Hurr stated the consensus of the Council was that they wanted to see a plan for the police department before proceeding any further. Mayor Callahan and Moorse indicated there had been discussions with Spring Park about the possibility of some reorganization and additional officers during the process of completing the police service contract. • Kelley asked Chief Sullivan when the plan would be ready. Chief Sullivan responded the plan was to have three corporals who would be first line supervisors available on the street instead of the old two lieutenant system. The corporals would function as patrol officers with modest supervisory responsibilities. The plan calls for three corporals to be appointed to serve for an interim period of 12 -18 months. At the end of that time, there would be a formal assessment to see if there should be two or three sergeants who would have more permanent duties with more responsibility. This is a way to provide the needed first line supervision at this time and give three officers an opportunity to gain experience and training and assess if they would make good supervisors later in their careers. Kelley asked if the officers were aware that if they did not possess the leadership qualities that were necessary they would return to patrol officer status. Chief Sullivan confirmed they would go back to patrol officer status at any time they were not performing satisfactorily. Since this is considered an assignment, they could be re- assigned to patrol officer status. If the Council decided to have two sergeants at some time in the future, a more formal screening and testing process would take place. The corporals and other officers could then apply for the sergeant positions. Jabbour commented that the information presented by the Police Chief should have been received earlier with the packet so he had time to review it and ask questions prior to the Council meeting. •