COUNCIL: Capable of hiring key staff

While the city has recently lost key staff members (“Cd’A officials in transition mode,” 11/17), the full responsibility of choosing their replacements need not have been placed upon the incoming mayor and council.

The present council was made aware of the early retirements almost a year ago. Back in February, the Police Association wrote a letter to the mayor regarding the selection of a new chief. Since that time, I’ve meet with the mayor on several occasions, urging her to initiate the process. As I recall, Mayor Bloem was reluctant to do so and cited the coming elections as her reason.

I commend Ron Clark on the fine job he’s doing as acting chief, but our town needs a full time police chief. Now the job is left to an incoming council. They are certainly capable of the task, but they could have been helped greatly had the current administration been more proactive on the replacement process.

DAN GOOKIN

Coeur d’Alene