According to the Montgomery City Council agenda, the council was scheduled to discuss personnel matters concerning Napolitano during an executive session. The agenda also included a possible action following executive session that would pertain to matters deliberated in the session.
During the citizen’s participation portion of the meeting, five individuals addressed council members on their concern about rumors that Napolitano would be terminated from his position. Napolitano did not address the council at Tuesday's meeting.
Mike White, captain of Montgomery County Constable Precinct 2, was one of the individuals who registered to speak during citizen’s participation. White said Napolitano’s contribution to the department and impact he has made him a valuable part of the department.
Napolitano was appointed to interim police chief in May 2013, replacing former Chief Royce Goodson. Before joining the Montgomery Police Department, Napolitano worked with the U.S. Secret Service, Montgomery County sheriff’s office and owned a private security business, according to a 2016 Community Impact Newspaper questionnaire.
“When I tell you that the Montgomery Police Department is one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County, I know what I’m talking about,” White said at the meeting. “Chief Napolitano takes a proactive stance when dealing with protecting this city and its citizens. The officers of this department are professional and highly equipped and trained to handle any situation that may arise, and this is all due to Chief Napolitano’s push for excellence.”
However, the council chose to table the executive session discussion. Position 2 Council Member John Champagne requested the executive session item be put back on the agenda for the next council meeting on Sept. 25.
City Attorney Larry Foerster said he made the recommendation to City Administrator Jack Yates and Mayor Sara Countryman that the executive session be tabled. Foerster said any employee or city official involved in a personnel matter may request that a closed executive session be made an open session.
Yates said he was not able to comment on what matters were to be discussed during executive session. However, Yates said the city intends to hire a company to conduct an independent study on the police department. The company will look at issues discussed during recent budget workshops, including the police department’s budget, staffing and the needs of the growing city.
Once the company is hired, Yates said it could take one to two months before the results of the study are available. He said he does not believe personnel decisions will be made until after the independent study is complete.
“We’re growing and my feeling is, and several members of the council agreed, that a study will help us in the chief issues, but mostly it’ll help us in the department issues,” Yates said. “What I envision happening is they come in and talk to the general public, city staff, council members, the police department staff and especially the chief and make some evaluations and recommendations.”
Other agenda items
- Council members voted to unanimously approve the city’s fiscal year 2018-19 operating budget and property tax rate.
- The contractor for Buffalo Springs Drive bridge repair, Glenn Fuqua Inc., now estimates a project completion date of Oct. 31, City Engineer Chris Roznovsky said.
