FAIRHOPE, Ala. — While Police Chief Mike Comalander watched from the back of council chambers Monday night, the City Council reappointed two Fairhope officials, but he was not one of them.

The recently elected council has been reviewing the positions of city clerk, treasurer, attorney and police chief before making appointments this year, a change from how the council has worked in years past, said Councilman Mike Ford, who has objected to the review process, stating during recent meetings that all four persons should be immediately reappointed.

The council reappointed City Clerk Lisa Hanks and City Treasurer Nancy Wilson Monday but will continue to review the attorney and police chief positions, Council President Debbie Quinn said.

“They’re working diligently,” she said, referring to council members Dan Stankoski and Rick Kingrea, who are reviewing the police chief and city attorney jobs, respectively. “They’re doing their due diligence.”

Several police vehicles were parked outside the Civic Center Monday night, and at least eight police officers stood at various times in the back of council chambers, several in uniform. Comalander said only one officer was on duty at the time.

“We’re supposed to make four appointments,” Ford said. “I can tell by all the police here tonight, they’re not happy. We ought to know why we’re not appointing them.”

According to a city document entitled “FY 2009 Payroll Budget Worksheets,” the proposed pay for the jobs in question are listed as follows for the jobs and persons in question: Comalander, Chief of Police, $83,096; Wilson, City Treasurer, $83,746; and Hanks, City Clerk, $79,280. The document does not list an item for City Attorney Marion “Tut” Wynne, who is hired by the city on a contract basis, Quinn said at a recent council meeting.

The proposed pay rates are dated Oct. 1, and it is unclear whether those amounts include the 4 percent pay raise the council approved for city employees at its Oct. 13 meeting. Hanks, whose office responds to public records inquiries, was unavailable this week to verify whether the raise was included in the worksheet salary listing.

Ford said a number of rumors had been circulating recently about Comalander and why his reappointment might not take place.

“I hear the chief is sick and he’s not there half the time,” said Ford, referring to the rumors. “I stand by the man. I think it’s dividing the community, (and) we need to put a time limit on it. I just think it’s unfair the way it’s been going.”

Stankoski, who Quinn appointed to review the police chief position, said he will do his review “with dispatch” but it may take more than two days.

“I’ll assemble a group and do this,” he said. “I’ve heard these rumors. I think we ought to look into it,” adding that they may discover there is nothing to the rumors.

In other business, the council:

•Delayed voting on an ordinance to move appointing authority for most city manager positions from the mayor to the council. The council discussed amending the proposed ordinance to leave the appointing authority with the mayor but subject to the council’s approval. The council is expected to adopt the amended ordinance at its next meeting.

• Heard from three residents who complained about problems at the construction site of the Publix grocery store at Parker Road and U.S. 98/Greeno Road. Paul Ripp, Mike Perkins and Wendell Barnhill asked the council to convene a committee to review the project or have the developer present to the council the original site development plan and an update on the current status and any changes made during construction.

“I will get with (Planning Director) Gregg (Mims) and the council and let you know,” Quinn said.