City council approves buying new police equipment

The Havre Police Department may soon be getting new radar guns and new furniture for the city’s 911 dispatch center.

The city hopes to purchase the equipment under a $10,530 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.

City Council authorized Police Chief Gabe Matosich to apply for the grant after a brief public hearing Monday night.

Matosich said he is optimistic the city will get the money.

Asked by council member Caleb Hutchins how old the existing radar gunswere , the chief just smiled and said, “Very old.”

The existing furniture in the dispatch center is falling apart, he said.

No one spoke against the proposal at the public hearing.

In other business at the meeting:

Council member Terry Lilletvedt reported that her Police and Fire Committee had met with members of the International Association of Fire Fighters, the union that represents rank-and-file city firefighters, over their concerns about pay to union members who are working temporarily in positions above their pay grades.

She said the committee discussed the matter with the union delegation, headed by Grievance Committee Chair Cody McLain, and then tried to set up a meeting with management to get its input,

But before the second meeting could be arranged, she said, the union filed a formal grievance.

That ended her committee’s involvement in the matter, she said.

• Council member Andre Brekke reminded his colleagues that at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28, the Government Study Commission will hold its second public hearing on its proposal to establish a city manager form of government. After the hearing, the panel may decide to put the proposal on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

• Council unanimously approved the appointment of Joe Pigeon as permanent firefighter.

He has served as a probationary firefighter for six months.

“Joe has proven himself as being a reliable and dependable member of the Havre Fire Department,” Fire Chief Tim Hedges said in a letter to council.