SPRINGDALE -- The Civil Service Commission decided Wednesday to advertise internally among city employees for a police chief, nearly two months after the former chief retired.
The deadline to apply will be 10 working days from when it is posted, said Gina Lewis, director of human resources.
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To see the job description for the Springdale police chief position, go to www.nwadg.com/docum….
Lewis planned for the advertising to be posted on bulletin boards in departments before 5 p.m. Wednesday. She said it would happen today at the latest.
Commission Secretary Bob Downum asked to go into executive session so the commission could do a preliminary interview of Mike Peters, acting police chief.
"I think there's nothing wrong with due diligence," Downum said.
Downum said he thinks Peters has done a good job as acting police chief. He said he thought a preliminary interview would be good, because Peters has been acting police chief for almost two months.
However, Commissioner Dave Chapman said he'd like to give Peters more time before doing an interview.
Mayor Doug Sprouse announced at a City Council meeting May 12 that Peters would be the acting police chief until the commission chooses a permanent one. Peters became acting police chief July 1.
Peters said he plans to apply for the position.
Lewis said the commission would have to do a preliminary interview for all applicants if it did a preliminary interview for Peters. She said it's city policy to accept applications before doing interviews.
Commissioners then went into executive session to meet with Sprouse about the police chief position. City Attorney Ernest Cate said commissioners were able to go into executive session because of the section in the Freedom of Information Act that says the private sessions are allowed for considering employment.
The law states, "Executive sessions will be permitted only for the purpose of considering employment, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining, or resignation of any public officer or employee."
When commissioners returned from executive session, Chairman Eric Harris said they took no action. He also said the commission plans to have the application process, then review applications and set a date for formal interviews.
Former Chief Kathy O'Kelley notified Sprouse in a May 6 letter she planned to retire June 30. She wrote she believes she's left the department with a well-trained staff that includes the right person to replace her as chief. She was chief in Springdale for 9½ years.
NW News on 08/27/2015