Council member Woods says fire chief appointment process was mishandled; city attorney expects investigation report next week

Councilmember Ms. Woods raised concerns at the Oct. 14 City Council meeting about the City’s handling of the recent fire chief appointment, saying the Mayor did not involve the Council as promised and allowed the 30-day period to lapse, which led to the governor’s appointment.

"The media misrepresented the situation," Ms. Woods said, and she called for the agenda item to be removed pending the outcome of an open investigation. Chairman Rodney McFarland said with no motion the resolution is null and void, and the seat remains open to any member of the Council.

City Attorney Brandon Creekbaum told the Council he is in the middle of a trial but that he and Mrs. Washington had made significant headway on the draft report; he said the trial is expected to conclude this week and that completion of the report should follow next week. Chairman McFarland pressed for an earlier delivery and asked about the ability of assistant attorneys to finalize the document; Creekbaum said assistant attorneys had not been involved and he would return to the report as soon as his trial ends.

Council members said they need the report to address lingering questions and to consider potential ordinance changes to strengthen enforcement around trash, garbage and illegal dumping, and to consider raising fines where the City has authority.