By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Incoming Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon said she supports Curtis Rigney’s appointment as the city’s new police chief, and said she would like to appoint a committee to help find the city’s new fire chief during an Oct. 25 work session.

During the work session, which was the first for Handlon and the incoming City Council, Handlon said she would like to form a committee composed of state fire officials to help narrow the pool of applicants for the city’s soon-to-be-vacant fire chief position.

Current Alabaster Fire Chief Frank Matherson recently announced he will retire from the position on Nov. 1.

“I don’t think one person is qualified to pick the best five out of the applicants (for the chief’s position),” Handlon said, noting she would like to work with the Alabama Fire College to help put the committee together.

Handlon also said she supported outgoing Mayor David Frings’ decision to name Curtis Rigney as the city’s new police chief. Rigney replaced former police chief Stanley Oliver, who retired on Oct. 1.

“I’m good with what’s been done,” Handlon said.

During the work session, the council members also discussed the procedure for their Nov. 5 meeting, during which Handlon and the incoming council members will be sworn into office. The council will remain relatively unchanged over the next four years, as the only non-incumbent elected during the city’s recent municipal election was incoming Ward 5 Councilman Russell Bedsole.

After Handlon and the council members are sworn in, the council members will nominate and elect a council president and council president pro tem. During the work session, returning council members Scott Brakefield and Rick Walters said they would be interested in the two positions.

Following the Nov. 5 council meeting, the city will hold a reception for the new city officials at the Alabaster Senior Center.