MONTICELLO - After months of searching, the village of Monticello appears to be close to hiring Szvon Conway as police chief, despite some initial hesitation regarding his qualifications for the position.
According to its Dec. 7 meeting minutes, board trustees accepted a resignation letter from then-Chief Tom Erb, who officially retired on Jan. 6.
Village Board President Tere Dunlap said that initially, village officials followed general practice of first offering the position internally. After analysis of two department employees, officer Marques Hicks and part-timer Conway, the board decided to seek outside applicants with skills that fit the description of the job posted by village officials.
"We bypassed them to try to find better-qualified candidates," Dunlap said. "To try to find someone who better fit what we were looking for."
Conway re-applied as one of five or six total applicants, Dunlap added.
On May 17, the village personnel committee analyzed two candidates. One was Conway; Dunlap said she could not divulge the identity of the other applicant. The committee recommended Conway for approval by the village board. A special meeting was scheduled for Thursday to allow trustees to meet with him and verify his skills.
Despite rejecting his application initially, board members decided to reconsider Conway's skill set.
"After looking at his other qualifications, it was decided there are some things that can be taught," Dunlap said.
Scheduling and budget creation were areas in which Conway was limited because he did not have previous work experience with either. But Dunlap pointed out that each responsibility of the position has to be evaluated by other officials. For instance, the budget is created by the chief but has to be evaluated by the committee and then board members before it can be approved.
Some members of the public have expressed support of Conway as police chief. In a meeting on Jan. 18, resident Leoara Miller presented a petition with 261 signatures urging trustees to hire Conway as police chief. The petition listed his "approachability, personality and common sense" as reasons to hire him.
Dunlap acknowledged some residents were put off by the methods the village used to evaluate Conway, including the use of the Green County Sheriff's Department for employment background checks, because Conway worked for the department.
However, she noted the board had first attempted to use Rock County law enforcement, but the sheriff had declined. Despite the conflict of interest, Dunlap said she believed Green County Sheriff Mark Rohloff when he said impartiality in the hiring of a Monticello police chief is important because Green County works in conjunction with the village department.
A special meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday at the village hall board room should end the search and result in Conway's hiring: Dunlap said she thinks "they're going to offer it to him." The meeting agenda has a closed discussion and possible action regarding police chief interviews as the only item listed for Thursday.
According to its Dec. 7 meeting minutes, board trustees accepted a resignation letter from then-Chief Tom Erb, who officially retired on Jan. 6.
Village Board President Tere Dunlap said that initially, village officials followed general practice of first offering the position internally. After analysis of two department employees, officer Marques Hicks and part-timer Conway, the board decided to seek outside applicants with skills that fit the description of the job posted by village officials.
"We bypassed them to try to find better-qualified candidates," Dunlap said. "To try to find someone who better fit what we were looking for."
Conway re-applied as one of five or six total applicants, Dunlap added.
On May 17, the village personnel committee analyzed two candidates. One was Conway; Dunlap said she could not divulge the identity of the other applicant. The committee recommended Conway for approval by the village board. A special meeting was scheduled for Thursday to allow trustees to meet with him and verify his skills.
Despite rejecting his application initially, board members decided to reconsider Conway's skill set.
"After looking at his other qualifications, it was decided there are some things that can be taught," Dunlap said.
Scheduling and budget creation were areas in which Conway was limited because he did not have previous work experience with either. But Dunlap pointed out that each responsibility of the position has to be evaluated by other officials. For instance, the budget is created by the chief but has to be evaluated by the committee and then board members before it can be approved.
Some members of the public have expressed support of Conway as police chief. In a meeting on Jan. 18, resident Leoara Miller presented a petition with 261 signatures urging trustees to hire Conway as police chief. The petition listed his "approachability, personality and common sense" as reasons to hire him.
Dunlap acknowledged some residents were put off by the methods the village used to evaluate Conway, including the use of the Green County Sheriff's Department for employment background checks, because Conway worked for the department.
However, she noted the board had first attempted to use Rock County law enforcement, but the sheriff had declined. Despite the conflict of interest, Dunlap said she believed Green County Sheriff Mark Rohloff when he said impartiality in the hiring of a Monticello police chief is important because Green County works in conjunction with the village department.
A special meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday at the village hall board room should end the search and result in Conway's hiring: Dunlap said she thinks "they're going to offer it to him." The meeting agenda has a closed discussion and possible action regarding police chief interviews as the only item listed for Thursday.