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BETHESDA - The village once again has a police chief, after council voted Tuesday to give Pete Busack another six months probationary period.
Busack had served as interim chief for six months. On Sept. 26, Mayor Martin Lucas recommended Busack be moved from his probationary role to a permanent chief's position, but Councilman Chuck Little's motion was not seconded. Since then, members of the public have have expressed dissatisfaction and said their questions have been unanswered.
A crowd of close to 40 people gathered in a community hall across from the village building Tuesday, mostly to speak on Busack's behalf in a special council meeting to decided on personnel issues. Councilwoman Ruth Saffell asked for an executive session a few minutes into the meeting to discuss personnel and litigation. The executive session continued for more than a half-hour.
Afterward, Councilwoman Jordan Castello motion to give Busack another six-month probationary period. Councilman Jan Van Horn voted no. Council members Castello, Saffell, Little, Carol Merritt and Cindy Foose voted in favor.
Council also appointed Rod Miller to Little's council seat when it becomes vacant in 2020. Miller's four-year term will begin in January. Miller and Little both submitted letters of interest. Castello motioned to appoint Little, noting a mistake in his petition had disqualified him from running for re-election. No other council members seconded the motion.
Saffell, Merritt and Foose voted in favor of Miller. Castello voted no. Van Horn abstained.
Numerous guests then asked to be heard. Many expressed concern that the issue of a permanent police chief remained unresolved and the situation could repeat itself in six month.
"What happens in six months if you guys are going to do this again?" Rachel Smith said. "This town needs a chief."
Allen Stonebreaker voiced a complaint about speeding through town. Busack said he has been on the lookout for speeders.
Curtis Hallstrom, who serves as armorer for the police department, asked that the metrics of Busack's probation be open to public scrutiny.
Dan Lucas, who serves as a board of education member for Union Local, asked why council believed Busack was qualified as a patrolman but not a chief.
"He is doing his job to the best of his abilities, I give him that," Castello said.
"There is an issue that not everybody is aware of," she said. "We cannot discuss it any further, but in six months we might be able to have some sort of outcome to that issue, and we might be able to move forward in a better position, but as for right now we don't have answers to some of our questions. We have to wait."
Busack voiced his agreement with Castello.
Castello also said she believes Busack has demonstrated overzealousness and arrogance and said council will continue to work with him.
"I, at this point, cannot change my decision," Van Horn said. "I personally won't do it right now. I'm willing to start over at this point. … I want to see where this goes. He's got six months' probation to prove himself."
Hallstrom asked council to consider the aging guns and tools of the police force. He said he hopes to provide free demonstrations to the department, but he must produce a letter of intent from a police chief for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
"To be able to move the items from the original manufacturer to my licensure and then ultimately to the department. .. we absolutely have to have a police chief," he said.
Mike McCormick asked that the parameters of probation and the goals for Busack to meet be made clear to all involved.
Village Administrator Dirk Davis pointed out the current 3.5 mills police levy raises $33,500 yearly. He said this, and 20 hours for patrolling Morristown, is insufficient for a full-time officer. Busack currently works part-time.
"Is the town willing to put another levy on?" Davis said. "We have to have money to run a police department."
"With the disruptions you're having, it's hard to get a levy passed," Dan Lucas said.
Mayor-elect Samantha Burkhead promised the public that Busack's activities and patrolling hours would be available to the public.
"I'm going to show you what the police department can do," she said. "I want you all to see that so you can say, 'Yes, this police department is worth it.'"
Martin Lucas said Busack has been scrupulous about cataloging his work.
"Any of you can walk in and ask that question," he said.