Past mayors continue to serve city

The City Council on Tuesday appointed two former mayors and a third incumbent to the Personnel Board.

Wayne Peterson, who served on the council from 1992 to 2000, was reappointed to his third, two-year term on the board. Neil Fitzpatrick, a councilmember for 12 years (1984-1996), was reappointed to the board for a fifth term. They will serve with Delano Dinelly, who has two years on the board under his belt.

“It is a tribute to the staff we don’t meet often,” Peterson said. “I remember when I was on the council, the board met often. It wasn’t nice.”

The board convenes only when an employee appeals a disciplinary action a salary cut, demotion, suspension or dismissal. Hearings are not held in public unless the employee requests it.

Fitzpatrick opined that the appointment is ideal for a lazy person, which, he said, suits him fine.

“We did have one case this past year, so I had a chance to observe the skills that are needed,” Dinelly said Good board members need to be good listeners, able to apply logic and make decisions, Dinelly said.