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Council weighs whether Vernonia police chief should be at-will or on a separate contract
Summary
Staff presented historical context and asked council direction on whether the police chief should remain an at-will employee under the CBA/handbook or be employed under a separate contract; council asked to hear from the chief and consult counsel about executive-session rules.
A central personnel discussion at the Jan. 12 work session focused on the employment status of the Vernonia police chief and potential contract terms.
Staff explained that historically the city administrator was the only contracted employee and that prior chiefs had at times held separate contracts. "So for discipline, for benefits, all of that is the budget, the CBA, and the handbook," the staff member said, then asked council whether it preferred the chief to be a separate contracted position or an at-will position under the collective bargaining agreement. Staff offered to compile past drafts and legal guidance for the council to review.
Councilors raised budget and supervisory concerns. One councilor said that making the chief a contracted, exempt position could remove overtime pay and replace it with comp time or a salary bump, which could reduce total payroll costs but change benefits and termination terms. The staff member noted a previous allegation involving the chief and the sheriff's office had been adjudicated and "it was unfounded," and recommended consulting the city attorney (Reuben) before inviting the chief into any discussion that might require executive session. Council asked staff to prepare documents and consider a work session that would include the chief so members could hear his views directly.
