Matosich: No need for Havre city manager

Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich says he believes city government is working well the way things are, and there is no need for a city manager form of government.

Matosich was the most recent in a string of city department heads who was interviewed by the city’s Study Commission, a three-member panel that is looking for way to improve the city’s form of government.

The most frequent idea heard by the commission is for a city manager to run the day-to-day operations. Under that system, a mayor would become the presiding officer of City Council and the public face of the city, but most of the day-to-day operations of the city would be taken over by the manager.

Matosich said the manager would have to be paid $60,000 to $100,000. During his interview with the commission, the chief listed several ideas he had to improve the department, but all would include spending more money, and he said he favored his projects over hiring a new employee.

The city is at its taxing limit and cannot raise taxes without a mill levy vote of the public.

One likely candidate for the city manager’s post, he said, would be a young person trying to climb the career ladder, meaning they wouldn’t want to stay in Havre long. Then a new person would come in and have to learn the ropes.

“Are we going to get somebody from out of town?” he asked. “Will we get somebody who knows our community and shares our values?”

The commission will have to prepare its report on whether changes should be made in the form of government by next summer so it can be placed on the ballot in the fall of 2016.

After the commission interviews all the department heads, it will hold public input sessions. Its members hope to hear more comments from the public.

Although the commission meetings are open to the public, only two people, other than a reporter who frequents the meetings, has ever shown up, said Commission Chair Dave Brewer. One of those two came by accident, looking for another meeting, he said.

The commission changed the nights it will meet. It plans on holding regular meetings the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the rear conference room at city hall, though it will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday to get the thoughts of Deputy Police Chief Jason Barkus.

Matosich spoke on a variety of topics not directly related to the commission’s main focus.

The chief said communications are good between city departments, each willing to help out others.

Asked what types of improvements he would like to see, Matosich said he would like to be able to hire two police officers who would work 10-hour days five days a week.

Usually, there are three officers on duty for each shift, but with the two new officers, he could ensure that five officers would be on the overnight shift Friday and Saturday night when they are most needed.

If there were no financial restrictions, he said, he would like to see a new building to house the police department and city court.

That would help improve security at both locations, he said. It would make it easier and safer for the department when it has to transport suspects to court.

The police are cramped in their present headquarters, he said, which in several ways is not secure.