Council deadlocks on candidate for full‑time police officer; appoints code enforcement officer retroactively

Councilors on July 9 declined to advance a recommended full‑time police hire after the motion to appoint the Civil Service Commission’s recommended candidate did not receive a second, and separately approved a retroactive appointment for a new code enforcement officer.

Police Chief David Pernice told council that candidate Kenneth Fye passed civil service testing and background checks and that the commission provided a certified list naming Fye as the sole eligible candidate. Councilor Steadman moved to hire Fye as a full‑time officer, but the motion failed because no councilor seconded it; the minutes state the hire will be revisited at a future meeting. Chief Pernice later asked why the motion died, saying he had no reason to give the applicant.

Separately, the Personnel Committee recommended Mark Zigler as Code Enforcement Officer. Councilor Osborn moved and Councilor Joyce seconded a retroactive appointment for Zigler, who was available to begin training July 12 and to start substantive work on July 29; the motion carried despite Councilor Uber’s opposition, which the minutes record was based on a residency concern.

The meeting minutes record no formal vote tally for the failed police hire and record the Zigler appointment as carried with one opposing councilor. The record does not specify any salary or contract terms for either appointment, and the Police Chief said the hiring question will be revisited at a future meeting.