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St. Helens council discusses six-month interim contract for acting police chief
Summary
At a council work session, members discussed formalizing Joe Hogue’s role with a six-month interim employment agreement, directed attorneys to draft terms and to clarify whether an external posting would be required; no formal vote was recorded.
St. Helens City Council members on Tuesday discussed offering Acting Chief Joe Hogue a six-month interim employment agreement while the council improves department hiring and evaluation policies.
The council’s outside employment-law adviser, Peter, recommended formalizing Hogue’s interim status with a six-month contract that would set expectations and allow a structured evaluation. “Our recommendation … would be to continue with that kind of an interim basis, but formalize it somewhat with kind of an interim contract that outlines kind of the expectations during this period,” Peter said. He added the plan could include a 360 review at the end of the period and give the council time to vet Hogue before deciding whether to post the vacancy or extend a longer-term appointment.
Council members said they support careful review after the recent departure of former Chief Greenway and want improved governing policies before making a permanent appointment. Councilman Gunderson said he has seen “exactly what I think we should have seen under the previous leadership” and urged moving forward. Councilor Hubbard and others said they are generally supportive of Hogue but want the council to fix identified “foundational flaws” in employee evaluations and other governance processes before finalizing a long-term hire. Councilor Sandeep said Hogue’s decades of experience weigh in his favor.
City attorneys discussed drafting and process details. Aiken Blitt, the attorney the council expects to use for drafting, was identified as the likely drafter for the interim agreement; the council asked Aiken to prepare language that preserves an at-will employment relationship while establishing review steps. The council also asked for advice on whether an external job posting would be required if the agreement is characterized as more than an interim appointment; attorneys said they would research posting obligations and return with guidance.
Council members moved to place a motion on the agenda to appoint Hogue as interim chief for six months subject to a mutually agreeable employment agreement and to have staff and attorneys draft terms. The meeting record shows the motion was made and that the council planned to get additional legal advice and refine the draft; no formal vote on a final agreement was recorded during the session.
The discussion emphasized two parallel tracks: (1) setting a short-term structure for Hogue’s role and (2) revising governing policies, including evaluation procedures, so future department-head hiring follows a consistent process. Several councilors said the governing-policy revisions and the interim appointment can proceed concurrently to ensure both the department and the council have clear, documented procedures.
Next steps the council identified were: directing Aiken Blitt and city staff to draft an interim employment agreement that includes a six-month check-in and a 360-review mechanism, and returning to the council with legal guidance on posting requirements and a final agreement for approval.
