Emotions were high at the Sept. 27 Clarkston City Council meeting as residents voiced concerns over the city’s police department and undisclosed rumors regarding its personnel.
The biggest rumor that surfaced was an apparent communication problem between the council itself and the police department’s Chief Ernie Combs.
‘The rumors going around are causing problems,? said Steve Coventry, who is a candidate city council.
Council members attempted to address rumors regarding the department, but residents were hesitant to perpetuate any unknown information.
‘These rumors aren’t coming from the council,? Mayor Sharron Catallo stated.
The police department is down two officers after the resignation of Rob Alonzi and the termination of Chris Joyce. Chief Combs could not comment on the grounds for Joyce’s dismissal.
The former Clarkston officer has petitioned the city council to investigate his employment termination by Combs.
‘I think there’s obviously a problem with communication between the council and police chief,? said Steve Wylie, who is also running for city council this fall. ‘I think the fault lies with the council.?
Combs said he does not have a problem filling the empty shifts and is not ‘actively seeking replacements? for the two open positions.
‘At the moment I’m able to staff shifts with the officers I’ve got,? Combs said. ‘This is a great bunch of guys, they’re really dedicated. At the moment we’re ok.?
Currently the police department has eight officers, not counting Combs. One officer is on during the day shift and the afternoon shift. Combs overlaps the two time periods.
Joyce has the option to meet with the council in either an open or closed meeting, according to Combs. Residents questioned closed meetings by the council in the past in regard to the police department.
The council held a special meeting on Sept. 23 to discuss the policy of closed vs. open meetings for city personnel issues, specifically regarding the situation with Joyce. Council member Dave Savage supported Combs? decision regarding Joyce’s termination during the special meeting.
After the last council meeting, Catallo defended the importance of closed meetings as a means for the council to gather more information when making decisions.
The 1976 Open Meeting Act 15.268, section 8, states, ‘A public body may meet in a closed session for the following purposes: To consider the dismissal, suspension, or discipling of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, or to consider a periodic personnel evaulation of, a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual agent, if the named person requests a closed hearing. A person requesting a closed hearing may rescind the request at any time, in which case the matter at issue shall be considered after the rescission only in open sessions.?
‘Doing open meetings, you just can’t say, ‘Hey, let’s talk about this…?,? Catallo said. ‘I actually don’t think it’s a communication problem, it’s more of a presentation problem.
‘You could call it communication if you wanted to, but I don’t think it is. It’s more of a ‘how-to? problem,? Catallo said.
Another issue raised during the Sept. 27 meeting dealt with the purchase of TAZER equipment for the police department. An offer by a resident has been made to purchase a matching TAZER gun if the city provides funding for the first.
Council member Scott Meyland stated he would meet with Combs to discuss the matter after evaluating the city’s budget.