[img]2543|right|Scott Bixby||no_popup[/img]From the outside, when Scott Bixby was promoted to interim Police Chief last April and when Dave White was promoted interim Fire Chief at the end of May – both replacing retirees – hardly any City Hall observer doubted they would become permanent appointments.
Before the City Council made their final selections official at last evening’s meeting, the process was somewhat more complex, according to the vice mayor.
Was this the easiest voting decision of Mehaul O’Leary’s two elected terms?
“I wanted to make sure we had a process in place,” he said this morning. “I didn’t immediately want their appointments to be just automatic.
“I knew both of the candidates in their positions as assistant chiefs. But I didn’t know about their capabilities in performing as chiefs,” said Mr. O’Leary.
“I didn’t know how their staffs would react to them.
“Once we went with the ‘interim’ titles first, we were able to watch them in action and get feedback from everybody involved, it became abundantly clear very quickly.
“Both not only were quite capable, but deserving.”
Mr. O’Leary said no other candidates, either from the inside or outside, were considered.
The vice mayor said that “on the beginning, there wasn’t consensus” to make the choices instantly permanent. There was an indication the Council considered hiring a consulting firm, a frequent practice in the past.
Over the summer, Mr. O’Leary said, “I watched and listened to my colleagues. We all agreed that what we saw was exactly what we were looking for.
“It became a consensus through the various meetings we had. It was great to see the vote was unanimous.”
The vice mayor could not say when he had made up his mind. “My concern was that it be unanimous,” he said. “I didn’t want another 3-2 chief. As I have said in the past, if we are going to be divided, maybe we should go again and look for another.”
