Springdale commission updates job descriptions, documents

SPRINGDALE -- The city's Civil Service Commission met Wednesday to approve aligning its job descriptions for police chief and fire chief with those of the city.

Commissioners decided at a meeting May 8 they needed to make the job descriptions match. Eric Harris, commission chairman, explained when the city updates a job description, the commission's description isn't automatically updated. Harris wasn't at Wednesday's meeting.

This comes after Police Chief Kathy O'Kelley notified Mayor Doug Sprouse on May 6 her retirement would begin June 30. The commission is responsible for choosing a new chief.

The city's job description for police chief requires a bachelor's degree from four-year college or university, 11 to 15 years of related experience and a minimum of eight years of management experience, among other requirements.

The commission's prior job description for police chief stated the person "must have worked in law enforcement for 10 years with at least five years in a supervisory capacity."

Sprouse named Capt. Mike Peters to be the acting police chief starting July 1.

The commission discussed, but didn't make a decision about whether to advertise the position in-house before opening the job to outside candidates.

Commissioners also approved the addition of four changes to the commission's rules documents. Springdale Fire Chief Mike Irwin said the commission already had approved the changes, but they hadn't been added to the commission's documents.

NW News on 05/28/2015

Upcoming Events