Saline Moves Forward On Police Chief Search

At the Feb. 27 meeting, Saline City Council approved a “competency template” that will be used to help judge candidates for the police chief position.

Consultant Terry McGinn, of Career Directions, presented a report to council. The template lists and then adds weight the personal attributes the city is looking in its next chief. According to the template, the most important attributes are community orientation and direction setting capability. Other desirable attributes include administrative skills, results orientation, relationship building and staff leadership. The template was design based on information gathered during a public forum, discussions with the police department staff, and discussions with city council and city department heads.

The job posting is expected to be posts on the websites of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police and Michigan Municipal league and the City of Saline.

The city hopes to have a permanent chief in place by July. Mike Lindman has been interim chief since the retirement of Paul Bunten.

In other news from the meeting:

• City council accepted the resignation of Parks and Recreation Committee member Justine Madonna. In a resignation letter, Madonna said she was grateful to serve on the committee and that her new job made continued service too difficult. Eric Harris was appointed to complete Madonna’s unexpired term.

• In the consent agenda, city council approved Mayor Gretchen Driskell’s trip to the National League of Cities 2012 Congressional City Conference, which takes place in Washington D.C., March 10-14. The trip is expected to cost $1,795.

• City council approved a letter of commendation to Alex Green, the Saline Troop 446 Boy Scout who has attained the highest honor of Eagle Scout. Green built a flight enclosure where large injured birds of prey can be treated and cared for until they can be released again into the wild. His Eagle ceremony takes place March 24.

• City council approved the Saline Brecon Friendship Guild’s request to fly Welsh flags at the downtown corners April 23-27. The flying of the flags is tied with the organization’s annual Brecon Night fundraiser, set for April 27, 2012.

• City council approved payment of bills totaling $396,493.01.