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Committee revives home-rule petition on age limits for special police appointments; tables for 45 days
Summary
Councilors removed from the table a home-rule petition seeking to set age 70 as the maximum for appointment/continuation of special police officers; the chief said he will consult the union and the item was tabled for 45 days to report back.
The committee took up a long-running home-rule petition that would amend Chapter 32 of the General Laws to bar appointment or continuation of special police officers after age 70 and to terminate such appointments once an officer attains that age.
Councillor Pereira moved to remove the matter from the table and the motion carried by voice vote. The new police chief told members he had not yet discussed the proposal with the union and suggested that, if retired officers are to perform special details, the city might require medical clearances for older appointees. "I can certainly talk to the union president about it," the chief said, adding that he would support retired officers doing details with an appropriate medical screening.
After questions, the committee agreed to table the item for 45 days to give the chief time to consult the union and return with recommended language or operational clarifications. The motion to table also passed by voice vote. No final ordinance amendment was adopted at the meeting; the committee expects a follow-up report from the chief with union input and any suggested ordinance language.
