At the council's Jan. 25 meeting, Larry Todd, who came on board this month as Clearlake Police's interim chief, gave an informational report on the police department reorganization and a hiring plan.

Todd said in a recent interview that when he arrived the department's command staff – including its communications and records supervisor, captain and lieutenant positions – were empty.

Since then, he has assigned two sergeants to help oversee patrol and support functions. Todd also has had to assign some officers to other tasks beyond patrol, including help in the understaffed dispatch department.

He told the council of his plans for recruitment, testing and hiring of two police lieutenants – rather than one captain and one lieutenant, as has been the structure in the past – two new sergeants and a communications and records supervisor.

Those reports required no action by the council, said Mayor Judy Thein.

Todd did, however, ask for action on two recommendations: one to reclassify the police secretary to a confidential employee and a second to approve his plan to surplus 11 vehicles. Todd said he plans to sell or scrap those vehicles and then use the proceeds to offset the purchasing replacement vehicles already approved in the department's 2006-07 budget.

Thein said the council approved both requests by Todd.

For her part, Thein said she was pleased with Todd's plans for the department. “I feel his reorganization plan is very worthwhile.”

Interim City Administrator Robert Van Nort – who will shortly hand over city hall's reins to Dale Neiman, the city's newly hired administrator – asked the council to approve a contract with Avery & Associates to recruit a permanent police chief.

One audience member thought the executive search firm would cost too much, and that the city should recruit on its own, said Thein.

Van Nort explained why it was beneficial to hire such a firm, the council agreed and voted to accept the recommendation, said Thein.

The council also approved Van Nort's recommendation for reorganizing the Community Development Department, said Thein.

Van Nort suggested that the council approve job descriptions for the senior building official and office assistant II/secretary/permit technician; and establish salaries for senior building inspector ($3,779-$4,708 per month), office assistant II/secretary/permit technician ($2,436-$2,961 per month) and assistant planner ($2,961-$3,599 per month).

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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