Governmental transparency was the most discussed issue in the 2008 Fairhope political campaigns. The implication was that our government failed to work openly. Supposedly, the new City Council would solve this problem by providing insight into decision processes and allow greater public involvement. That has yet to be achieved. The changes in the Police Department provide a good example.

When the council chose to replace Chief Comalander, it changed the job qualifications, making it all but impossible to hire from within the department. This made an outside search necessary. Toward that end, a panel was convened and guidelines were created for candidate selection. The council appointed Terry Sanders as interim chief. I believe strongly that the council intended Sanders to become permanent chief, and that they believed he would be the final selection.

Unfortunately, after a national search, five finalists were selected, and Sanders wasn’t among them. So, in a mid-game rule change, the council named Sanders the sixth member of the “Final Five.” Thus, the entire selection process was invalidated. At that point, in fairness, the process should have been discontinued and a review should have been done that looked at the job qualifications and the guidelines for evaluation and selection. That didn’t happen.

Ultimately, a candidate was chosen. Bill Press was unanimously hailed as a fine choice. What happened next is most troubling. At the July 13 council meeting, in what was undoubtedly a prearranged agreement, Chief Press requested that a new assistant chief position be created and that Terry Sanders be hired. The council already had a salary predetermined. Within minutes, they voted (with one exception) to create the new position and hire Sanders. By doing this, the City Council blatantly violated its public trust.

Firstly, by prearranging the hiring of Sanders, the council bypassed all public participation. Additionally, the deal was made without the knowledge of the mayor and at least one council member. City policy requires that jobs be publically posted, and city ordinance requires that the council “shall solicit the Mayor’s recommendation” for filling appointments. Neither was done.

Secondly, hiring Sanders in this manner was unfair to the other chief candidate finalists and to members of the Fairhope Police department. Without a public job posting, no one else could apply for the position. Again, this shut the door to those wishing to move up through the current ranks.

Thirdly, Bill Press was selected as the most qualified candidate. After less than two weeks, why did he insist on help? No Fairhope Police Chief has ever done so. This was clearly the council’s way of partially fulfilling a promise made to Sanders. Disturbingly, the council enlisted the aid of Chief Press and thus unfairly involved him.

Finally, it cost us citizens. Raising taxes then spending our money by creating unnecessary jobs to fulfill personal promises is completely improper. The assistant chief position should be eliminated and the Police Department returned to the way it was.

Chris Toney is a Fairhope resident and guest opinion columnist. His goals are: 1) rational government and 2) renewal of Fairhope’s reputation. He strives for understanding, civility and respect in 500 words or less.