Amato Still Pushing for Ordinance That Gives Council More Say in Appointments

Even though Karin T. DiMichele is now officially police chief, Township Council Vice-President Carmen J. Amato is not giving up his quest for the council to have more of a say in future appointments.

Township Council members introduced an ordinance at the July 26 meeting that called for the council to have more input into the police chief selection and the right to reject suggested candidates from the township administration. The vote was 5-2 along party lines. Democrats Anne M. Wolf and Peter J. Mustardo cast the no votes.

"The ordinance I put forth was out of frustration after numerous requests to have the council included in the selection process were ignored," Amato said earlier today.

Amato wrote the amendment that calls for the council to have "advice and consent" privileges for various appointments.

The amendment calls for the township administration's "appropriate authority" to submit the name of the proposed successor to the Township Council for their "advice and consent."

"Said appointment shall not take effect unless and until such time as Advice and Consent has been provided by the Council," the ordinance states. "If the Council rejects the nomination of the Appropriate Authority, the Appropriate Authority shall submit a new nominee for the council's consideration."

The Republican-controlled council also introduced an ordinance in January that would have transferred authority over the police department from the township administration to the Township Council.

The council later tabled the ordinance so more "stakeholders" could be consulted, Council President Karen Davis said then.

Varano in January accused the council of trying to politicize the department and called the ordinance an attempt to "grab power."

Varano and Township Attorney Patrick Sheehan have said that the selection of a police chief falls to the administration, under the Faulkner Act, the township's form of government. Varano said he picked Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele after reviewing Civil Service test scores and personnel records. He met with the council's public safety committee to listen to their input the day before he announced his pick, he said.

The council's legislative committee will review the latest ordinance amendment, said Amato, who is running against Democrat Varano for the mayoral seat in November.

"I am going to advance the ordinance and seek its passage so in the future, the council will be included in the process of hiring a chief of police," Amato said.

Amato noted that the mayor must have the advice and consent of council members before the police department physician can be appointed.

"However, in the hiring of the police chief, the council has no say or input," he said. "The appointment of chief is a lifetime appointment. We had an opportunity to work to restructure the administrative end of the department in an effort to save dollars."

Amato, who attended DiMichele's swearing-in ceremony this morning, said he will support DiMichele in her new position.

"I truly wish to congratulate Chief DiMichele and wish her the best of luck," Amato told Berkeley Patch. "I look forward to working with the new chief. The Council's Public Safety Committee, which I am chairman, will be scheduling a meeting with the new chief within the next two weeks. I look forward to hearing the chief's concerns and her input on what we can do together to make our police department better."