During citizen’s participation, five individuals addressed council members on their concern about rumors that Napolitano would be terminated from his position. Five individuals also addressed the council about the same topic at the Sept. 11 meeting.
An executive session to discuss “personnel concerning the City Police Chief” originally appeared on the Sept. 11 City Council meeting agenda, but the council ultimately voted to table the discussion. City Attorney Larry Foerster said Sept. 11 that he had advised Mayor Sara Countryman and City Administrator Jack Yates to table the closed executive session item.
The item returned as a discussion item in Tuesday's executive session, citing “personnel matters related to city administration and police department.” Napolitano was not summoned to council chambers during closed executive session, and Napolitano said he did not know what exactly was being deliberated during the session.
Napolitano has worked for the Montgomery Police Department since May 2013. 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.
Although the city is still considering hiring a private company to conduct an independent study on the police department, Yates said the study will focus more on the growing needs of the city.
“The study stands on its own, because it is larger than just the chief issues,” Yates said. “The reason I recommended it was because we’re growing, and there was so much discussion in the budget [workshops] about the size of their [police] budget ... I think we really need to look at it as if we’re looking at a master plan for housing developers.”
In regard to whether the discussion will return in future agendas, Countryman said the situation has been resolved, as far as she understands it.
“I’m expecting a very strong relationship and good relationship [between the city and police department] moving forward—without a doubt,” Countryman said.
Other agenda items:
- The council unanimously adopted a proposal amending the city’s official zoning map, which did not correctly reflect all previously approved ordinances like the Corridor Enhancement District.
- No further delays have been reported regarding repairs to the Buffalo Springs Drive bridge, which was damaged by flooding in April 2016. City Engineer Chris Roznovsky said the project contractor estimates the bridge to be substantially complete by Oct. 31.
- Following complaints from residents, Yates presented three options to the council regarding a potential update to the city’s animal ordinance. One ordinance presented would allow no more than six dogs and/or cats on a property as well as require permits for roosters. Another proposal included clarifications to state animal ordinance laws and lot size requirements for larger animals like horses. The city will seek public input prior to approving the ordinance, Yates said.
