First Selectman Ken Flatto said today that he and Acting Police Chief Gary MacNamara have agreed to terms whereby MacNamara would be sworn in as the town's ninth police chief.
Flatto said a draft contract being reviewed by MacNamara calls for a four-year contract with starting pay of $135,000 a year. The contract would run through June 30, 2014.
Former Police Chief David Peck, who retired May 21, was paid $141,809 in the current fiscal year and MacNamara, as deputy police chief, was paid $122,650, according to the 2009-10 budget book.
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"Gary and I had a very productive and positive meeting yesterday. I offered him the position of police chief and he accepted," Flatto said. "It was a very pleasant conversation. We agreed on terms."
Flatto said he hoped the contract would be signed Friday. "The draft was sent to him. He's looking it over," he said.
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One of the challenges MacNamara, a 22-year veteran of the Fairfield Police Department, will immediately face after he takes over as chief is ensuring supervisory vacancies at the Police Department are filled with the right candidates. Police Lt. Daniel Gombos and Police Sgt. James Wood are scheduled to retire June 30, and the department also has a vacancy at deputy police chief due to MacNamara's promotion. The department also has about eight vacancies in the ranks of patrol officers, Flatto said.
"He sees one of his immediate challenges is ensuring good people get picked and he also needs to replenish ranks of patrol officers," Flatto said, adding that personnel assignments also are important in MacNamara's view.
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