MARION -- The hiring of new police officers and dispatchers was approved in 5-0 votes on Monday night by the Marion City Council.
The council approved the recommendations of two new patrol officers by the Police and Fire Merit Board: Charles "Chuck" Welge to replace Officer Tom Stearns, who takes up his post as School Resource Officer at Marion High School this week; and Jerod Gott, upon the pending resignation of Officer Logan Spinka.
And to meet the growing demands of answering 911 calls for most of Williamson County, two new part-time dispatchers will join the Marion Police Department, earning $20.66 an hour: Hunter Abate-Barrett and Dylon S. Richardson.
The police and dispatch hires were presented to the council by Marion Police Chief Dawn Tondini. She was recognized during the meeting by Mayor Anthony Rinella for her recent election as president of NAWLI, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.
Tondini, the MPD's first female officer, became chief in 2014 and has overseen the expansion of the department, including the creation of a narcotics unit and the addition of two K-9 units.
In other personnel matters, the council with Rinella and commissioners Angelo Hightower, Doug Patton, Jim Webb and John Goss, approved the following in 5-0 votes:
• Part-time HUB Recreation Center employees Jaci Crain as a group fitness instructor at $15 an hour and Emily Stroud as a swim coach and instructor at $20 an hour.
• Additional HUB job classifications for Jacob Schmid as flag football and tackle football staff for $9 an hour, Sarah Knowles and Hayden Gunther as Silver Sneakers instructors for $18 an hour, Bryon Waldrop as a group exercise and basketball instructor at $15 an hour and swim coach at $20 an hour and Alex Weinhold as lead lifeguard at $12 an hour.
• A new job description for lighting designer at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center and the hiring of the Fernando Emmanuel Castillo for the full-time position at $15 an hour. He replaces Dustin Myers, who will stay on at the facility as a part-time custodian, as needed for events, at $9 an hour.
• The resignation of Alexis Wagner, part-time shelver at Marion Carnegie Memorial Library, effective July 26.
