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Mayor raises removing fixed term for appointed officials as council prepares to consider fire chief
Summary
The mayor told the City Council on May 12 that candidates for the city's fire chief position have expressed concern about the city's three-year appointment term and urged colleagues to consider moving to an open-ended appointment model.
The mayor told the City Council at the May 12 special meeting that candidates for an upcoming fire chief appointment had raised concerns about the city's three-year fixed appointment term and that council should consider changing to an open-ended appointment model for certain appointed officials.
"One of the candidates indicated that it does give them some very serious concern to take the job knowing that 3 years they may not have the job just due to political pressures," the mayor said, describing discussions with candidates ahead of the selection. The mayor said other cities typically appoint officials "until you're not appointed" — meaning officials serve until resignation or removal — and suggested that removing a fixed term could make the city a more attractive employer for candidates.
The mayor also cited a recent personnel situation, saying, "She was awarded $400,000 because of her not being reappointed," referring to the city's former HR director, and said that a three-year term may not provide the protection intended. The mayor said the topic had come up repeatedly in recent conversations with candidates and asked council members to consider the issue as the city prepares to bring a candidate for fire chief to the council next Monday.
Council members did not take formal action at the special meeting. Raelynn, a staff member who had worked on purchasing and due diligence related to the pumps item, indicated she had no concerns about that procurement but did not speak to the appointment-term question. The mayor said he would bring the appointment for a new fire chief forward at the council's regular meeting next week, at which point council members could discuss any proposed changes to appointment timing or process.
No formal proposal or ordinance to change appointment terms was introduced at the May 12 meeting; the mayor framed the remarks as background for the upcoming appointment and a procedural matter for council consideration.
