City Council to vote on chiefs’ tenure

On Tuesday the Costa Mesa City Council is expected to vote to allow interim fire and police chiefs to stay on the job longer. Although the new police chief is due to start early in the new year, it’s still not clear when a permanent fire chief will be in place.

For interim Police Chief Steve Staveley, the extra time will last just a few weeks. It will allow him to help new Chief Christopher Shawkey, still police commander in Phoenix, get oriented to his new department in time for his swearing-in on Jan. 2. For interim Fire Chief Steven Parker, though state law would have only let him stay till spring, the uncertain medical condition of absent chief Jim Ellis means the wait could be far longer.

Because Staveley and Parker are retired, their state pension plans limit the number of hours they can work as temporary employees. But the law allows a city ordinance to override the limit of 940 hours, which otherwise would force Staveley out on Dec. 9.

Ellis abruptly took a medical leave of absence in June, citing doctor’s orders about an undisclosed medical condition. Parker was appointed in August to fill the position till Ellis returned.

City Manager Allan Roeder said his office has no information about when Ellis might return to work, nor were there plans now to find a replacement. Federal workers’ compensation law allows Ellis leave at least through June 2007.

“Through workers’ compensation and working with his physician, we’re doing everything we can to help him get better and back to work,” Roeder said. “The focus at this time is for him to get better.”

Former Police Chief John Hensley also left in June, retiring amid a staff shortage and a vigorous controversy over the department’s proposed role in immigration enforcement. Months of searches winnowed a list of 44 candidates for his replacement to one. Shawkey will take over on Jan. 2, but Roeder said he will be in town for much of this month to learn his way around the department.

Shawkey is “essentially going to get the keys to the door and look around,” Roeder said. “He’s very ready to come to work.”