The Police Advisory Commission meet on Monday to plot out how it will find a new chief.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Police Advisory Commission wants to put extra weight on hiring in-house for the town's next police chief.

But, commissioners still want to make sure they find the best candidate possible for the job. So they are planning to open it up to all of Western Massachusetts.

"I think it is really important to hire from within," said Commissioner Paul Therrien. "I think it would be so much easier if it came from within."

 

Police Chief Mark Bashara is retiring. His last day is May 29 and the Police Commission is taking the lead in searching for his replacement.

 

In the first meeting about the topic on Monday, the commission eyed a timeline that advertises the position in early December, interviews in February and makes a recommendation to the Selectmen in March, leaving few months for the selected candidate to prepare. 

 

In the middle of May, the chosen candidate would be asked to start to provide some overlap with the departing Bashara.

 

"It is always better to have the time and not need it than needing it and not having it," Therrien said of the timeline.

 

Bashara said there are current staffers who are qualified for the position and not considering them would be detrimental to department morale. 

 

"I would believe to not consider in-house candidates would be detrimental," Bashara said. "There are people who would be qualified to do the position."

 

In fact, during the last search five candidates were interviewed, Commissioner Marvin Michalak said, with Bashara and current Investigator Timothy Sorrell as finalists. It isn't known if Sorrell is applying again.

 

"If there were qualified in-house, I'd prefer it. They know the people, they know the town," Commissioner Edward Jurczyk said.

 

But with only six full-time officers to choose from, the commissioners want to look at other candidates as well. One of those six officers just recently bought a home in Pownal, Vt., and the Selectmen advocated for a candidate who lives in the county. 

 

"If they say they have to be in Berkshire County, he is about 100 yards too far," Michalak said.

 

The Selectmen suggested that the selected officer either live in Berkshire County or move to Berkshire County within a decided upon timeframe — so that the candidate could be considered if he moves back to the county or the Selectmen change its decision on the residency requirement.

 

According to the job description, the chief handles not only administrative duties but also works duties as need — something the commissioners said they want to clearly state in the ad so the candidates are aware of the responsibilities.

 

"We have to be versatile with a department of our size," Bashara said. "I've worked weekends, nights and everything in between."

 

Police Chief Mark Bashara is retiring at the end of his contract.

For example, the town doesn't employ a court officer and Bashara or a senior sergeant handles the administrative work required. Bashara said he is always on call and Lanesborough sees every type of crime and calls for service.

 

The commissioners also favored making the salary range clear in the job posting so they don't get candidates the town can't afford. And they hoped to put together a base benefit package document to give the candidates and idea of what to expect.

 

The contract between the town and the chief is negotiated between the candidate and the Board of Selectmen.

 

While the timeline is loose, the town does still have the option of naming an interim chief to buy some time. Bashara says he has sergeants who know the administrative duties somewhat and they could be trained up to take over.

 

Bashara also rejected the idea the Board of Selectmen had of sharing a chief with another town as a possible cost savings.

 

"If you could do that, you could start integrating some things," Town Administrator Paul Sieloff said, adding it would create more of a county-type police force. "It is not like it is impossible. It is going to be a big hill to climb."

 

Bashara, however, says you couldn't pay him enough to handle both the duties asked in Lanesborough and then oversee another department. 

 

"I see too many hurdles and problems with that," he said. "I would never advocate to have a shared-chief system. You hire a full-time chief dedicated to this town only."

 

The commission will meet in two weeks to decide the next steps and review the job posting.