Home » Government » Council modifies Police and Fire Chief employment terms at busy January 10 meeting

Council modifies Police and Fire Chief employment terms at busy January 10 meeting

Overlooking the Globe cemetery. Photo by LCGross

Members of the Globe City Council: Mayor Al Gameros, Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton (District 4), and Council members Freddy Rios (District 1), Mike Pastor (District 2), Jesse Leetham (District 3), Mariano Gonzalez (District 5), and Fernando Shipley (District 6). All members were in attendance at this meeting except Mayor Gameros.

Police Chief and Fire Chief hiring process, terms of employment modified

Council discussed and approved an amendment to the Globe City Code changing the terms of employment for the police chief and the fire chief. This amendment, which has been discussed at prior meetings, makes the police chief and fire chief regular employees who report to the City Manager and have the same employment protections as other City employees.

According to the amendment, future chiefs will be appointed by Council from a pool of candidates provided by the City Manager. The City Manager would have the option of retaining a search firm to prepare that list of candidates and would be able to indicate his top preference. Council will have the power to determine the final selection process and can include the public in that process if they so choose. Council will make the final selection.

The amendment also specifies that the chiefs are direct reports to the City Manager and have merit protections. Prior to this, the chiefs had been at-will employees who did not have grievance procedures or right of appeal, and were hired and fired solely by City Council although they reported to the City Manager.

 

Connie’s Bridge project slated to complete in November

Dave Moore of Meridian Engineering, project manager for the Connie’s Bridge project, updated Council on the work. Groundbreaking took place on January 10, and Moore said the project should be completed in mid-November. The project scope includes sidewalk work on Hill Street and a water line passing through the bridge structure.

Currently, Moore doesn’t anticipate any delays due to material shortages. Meridian is based in Tucson and works in Utah, Texas, and Arizona.

Jerry Barnes retires as City Engineer

Council recognized the retirement of Jerry Barnes, who has served as Globe’s City Engineer since 2014, in a public service career that goes back to 1972. 

City Manager Paul Jepson cited the many significant public works projects that Barnes spearheaded and praised Barnes’s personal qualities of humor and compassion.

Motions approved

Council also approved motions for the following:

  • Accounts payable in the amount of $124,369.02.
  • A contract with Sunny Path, LLC for the amount not to exceed $55,000 for procurement consulting services for a period of one year with the option to extend the contract for two additional one-year periods. Eric Bowman, Globe’s new Administrative Services Manager, said this is a renewal of existing services and has helped to streamline budgeting and finance workload, especially given the City’s recent high levels of grants funding. This item was included in the FY2023 budget. Over time, Bowman will be taking over the work Sunny Path is currently doing, but Jepson says his time, currently is better spent elsewhere.
  • A contract with NEOGOV for HR management services in the amount of $10,202.45, including an additional two-year obligation. Jepson explained that this contract is for software that will provide a paperless process for job applications. This software is commonly used to allow people to submit applications online, Jepson said, and it will modernize, simplify and professionalize the application process for the City of Globe. A three-year commitment will cost about $25,000 plus a $5,000 setup fee. Jepson pointed out that people who aren’t computer literate can go to the library for assistance with filling out the online application.
  • A change order for a contract with CDX Contracting LLC, for the Police Department Remodel Phase II project, in the amount of $5,774.50. Chief Walters explained that this change order is for the completion of the remodel of the Police Department due to adjustments that had to be made after some equipment was received. The PD will be holding an open house as soon as the remodel is complete.
  • Accepting a National Children’s Alliance grant awarded to the Globe Police Department Copper Hills Family Advocacy Center in the amount of $25,000. Chief Walters explained that the grant will fund a contract position with the advocacy center for an assistant to help crime victims, displaced persons and others. Chief Walters said the advocacy center has been very busy, holding more than 115 interviews last year and serving all of southern Gila County, not just Globe-Miami. There is no other facility in southern Gila County that provides the services that the Family Advocacy Center does.

“The #1 goal of this is trying to provide support for the victims of crime, and to try to minimize the possibility of victimizing them a second time with the way we conduct the interviews.” Chief Dale Walters

  • Accepting an Arizona Attorney General’s Office non-matching grant award in the amount of $19,140.89 awarded to the City of Globe Police Department Child and Family Advocacy Center. Chief Walters explained this is the second year in a row Globe has received this grant from the AG’s office. Last year the grant paid for a vehicle, and this year will go toward operational costs.
  • Approval of a scope of work for a Construction Inspection Specialist for the Upper Pinal Creek Bridge Inspector project, and directing the City Manager to negotiate a contract amount for an amount not to exceed $47,000. Jepson said the position will be for a full-time temporary contractor and explained that with Jerry Barnes leaving, the City needs a bridge inspector; this scope of work makes it possible to hire an inspector quickly when one is found. Barnes said the City had a retired ADOT bridge inspector in mind to fill the position, but that person is now unavailable. Barnes said until an inspector is found, he and other qualified City personnel will be conducting the inspections. 
  • Issuing an invitation for bid for the WWTP Oxidation Ditch Clean Out project. Barnes explained that this is for regular maintenance on the wastewater treatment plant, and that the oxidation ditch is drained, cleaned out, and inspected on a two-year cycle.
  • A resolution accepting a utility easement with Arizona Public Service for the installation of public utilities necessary to support the rehabilitation of the City of Globe Community Center. Barnes explained that this easement is related to electricity and lighting for the community pool project and APS had graciously gone ahead and done the work without the easement being officially in place. This is essentially a housekeeping item to ensure the easement is properly recorded.

To view this meeting online, visit this link. 

 

Full minutes can be found by going to the City Hall website at and clicking on Agendas/Minutes in the bottom left-hand corner.

The Globe City Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The meetings are currently open to the public at 50% capacity. Members of the public are requested to wear a mask except when seated. Seating is limited to allow for social distancing.

Members of the public can also participate in City of Globe public meetings by viewing the meeting live on YouTube. To view the Council meeting live stream, go to the City of Globe’s YouTube channel (search for City of Globe Arizona). Or click on the “Live Stream on YouTube” link at the top of www.globeaz.gov.

To speak to agenda items before or during the meeting, you can call or text (928) 200-0154 or send an email to council@globeaz.gov. If you desire to speak to the Council during an agenda item.

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