Monroe Police and Fire panel moves into closed session to interview police chief candidates

The City of Monroe Police and Fire meeting opened at 1:00 p.m., and the chair introduced a panel of external advisers who will assist in selecting a new police chief. The chair said the afternoon would be devoted to interviewing two candidates and discussing their qualifications.

"I would like to introduce the guest panelists that are giving us an afternoon of their time to help us in the selection process for the new chief of police," the chair said. Named attendees included Joe Munro of Monroe Schools; Hannah Reager, identified in the meeting as director/chief of Greene County EMS; Matt Schaffer, who was introduced as chair of the Monroe Council's Public Safety Committee; Al Rooffer; Fire Chief Catherine Raymond; Chad Brecklin (introduced as from SSM Health and later referenced in the same exchange as a Fitchburg city administrator and former police chief); and Jordan Nordby, identified as executive director of Main Street Monroe.

Before moving into a nonpublic session, a member moved to "go into closed session under the provisions listed on the agenda," citing the agenda language "Section 19 85 1 c." The motion was seconded and put to a roll-call vote. The four members listed present — Dave Denninger, Jerry Guth, Amanda Fields and Robin McLeish — each voted yes, and the chair declared the motion carried unanimously.

After the vote the chair said the body would proceed to closed session to interview the candidates. No public action on hiring or appointment was taken in open session; the meeting record shows only the vote to enter closed session.

The panelists were thanked for their participation and the meeting proceeded to closed session for candidate interviews. The commission did not announce any decision on hiring before moving out of the open meeting.