Candidates interviewed, outgoing city administrator will
pick
Chris Bone – Staff Writer
cb***@************ch.com
GILROY
To interview candidates interested in becoming the city’s next police chief, city officials left City Hall and headed for the Hilton on the south side of town.
Department heads and City Administrator Jay Baksa spent all day Tuesday interviewing an unknown number of candidates, one of whom will fill outgoing Police Chief Gregg Giusiana’s shoes.
Outside the hotel Tuesday, Baksa declined to comment on the interviews or the number of candidates.
All department heads were present, according to city officials.
But since Captains Debra Moore and Scott Smithee serve immediately under Giusiana, they are expected to vie for his position.
Neither of the captains could be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Human Resources Director LeeAnn McPhillips did not return late-afternoon messages Tuesday afternoon.
Due to the opaque nature of the hiring process, it remains to be seen whether the new council will pick the new chief. Councilman-elect Perry Woodward said he hoped the current council expires before Baksa recommends a chief and the new council convenes, scheduled for Dec. 3, according to city officials and the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.
Baksa is also set to retire a few days after New Year’s, but the current council cast a 4-3 vote in closed session during the summer to allow him to pick the new chief, according to Councilman Craig Gartman.
Gartman said he joined the minority because “I wanted the new city administrator to pick the new police chief. It’s better than having someone who’s walking out the door hiring a department head.”
The other councilmen believe Baksa has the experience and know-how to pick the next chief, Gartman said.
Now it is just a matter of who Baksa picks and when, whereupon he will submit the candidate to the council for approval by majority.
Mayor Al Pinheiro said Tuesday he was not sure either, but said he will meet with Baksa today on the matter and then have a better sense of when the council will decide.
