Council OKs Matosich nomination

After hours of behind-the-scene intrigue, Havre City Council Monday night unanimously approved Mayor Tim Solomon's nomination of Gabe Matosich as the city's 31st police chief.

Moments later, council approved Detective Sgt. Jason Barkus as deputy chief.

Some council members appeared uneasy about the Matosich vote, and some criticized, without being specific, the process that led to Solomon's nomination of Matosich.

Council member Jay Pyette said naming the police chief was the most difficult decision he has faced, and said he was "not pleased with the process. There was not enough clarity."

Pyette and fellow council members Allen "Woody" Woodwick and Terry Lilletvedt met in a room behind council chambers and arrived late for the council session because they had been discussing the police chief issue.

After the meeting, Woodwick said a group of police had talked to council members, hoping to derail Matosich's nomination in favor of Barkus, who was the only other applicant to be interviewed by the city's Police Commission.

Woodwick said he was swayed by the officer's arguments, but decided to vote in favor of the compromise in which Barkus would be named the number two in the department.

That way, he said, when Matosich retires, Barkus would be the logical successor.

Woodwick said the police commission favored Matosich because of his experience.

After the council vote, Matosich thanked the council for its support.

"It's great to lead one of the finest police forces in the United States," he said. He said he is the 31st chief since Art White became the first chief in 1902

Matosich began his career as a Hill County Sheriff's deputy, and has spent the last 18 with the Havre police force.

He recalled that when he was interviewed for the patrol officer position, he was asked if he would one day want to be chief.

"No way," he responded.

But his involvement with the department changed his mind over the years, he said.

"We are moving forward with the police department," Solomon said. He said Matosich and Barkus will be great leaders for the department.

After the meeting, Pyette said he wished he and other council members had stepped forward with thoughts and questions about the nomination earlier. He acknowledged that under the city charter Solomon holds the sole responsibility for the appointment, but he said council members have the right to express their opinions.

He deflected questions on whether he was being critical of the mayor, and said he couldn't say if he would have nominated Matosich if he were in the mayor's shoes.

Solomon has been criticized for dragging his feet on the appointment. Matosich had been interim chief for almost two years.

At each council meeting in recent months, Havre resident Bill Lanier asked Solomon when the appointment was going to be made. Solomon put him off each time.

In one of the light moments after the sometimes tense session, Pyette, while talking to someone from the audience, yelled out, "We did this largely to shut Bill up."

The comment elicited laughter from the audience.