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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City Council approved an agreement to aid in the selection of a new police chief for the city during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Feb. 10.

After serving the city of Alabaster for more than 30 years, Chief of Police Curtis Rigney announced that he will be retiring in June.

During the Feb. 10 meeting, the City Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with Center for Public Safety Management LLC to aid in interviews, assessment and evaluations related to the selection of a new police chief for the city of Alabaster.

“We feel like it’s important to go outside the city of Alabaster and really do the most thorough job that we can as far as recruiting a new police chief,” Alabaster City Council President Sophie Martin said. “This is down the road, but when you have one of these agencies in place, they are just an excellent tool to use when you go through one of these hiring processes.”

Alabaster’s agreement with Center for Public Safety Management is in the amount of $21,000, exclusive of travel, billed in two installments with 50 percent upon signage of the contract and 50 percent upon completion of the assessment center.

“Our police chief is one of the most important positions in the city,” Martin said. “(It’s) one that we really uphold, and we really want to do the hiring process right. Having a partnership (and) having this company in place will make sure that that process is done correctly.”

Martin also said that the city will continue to work with Center for Public Safety Management in the future for the hiring of other key positions within the city.

“(It is) just another step toward efficiency and doing the right thing for our residents and for the people who keep our city safe every day,” Martin said.

The city of Pelham also recently approved a contract with Center for Public Safety Management to assist in its search for a new police chief which was approved on Feb. 3 after Brent Sugg announced his retirement. Pelham’s agreement with CPSM is in the amount of $14,999, exclusive of travel.

In other business, the Alabaster City Council approved the following items on the agenda:

• Setting a public hearing for Monday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. to update the State Route 119 Overlay District
• Setting a public hearing for Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. for an ordinance relating to the burning of trees and brush in the city
• Setting a public hearing for Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. to authorize a renewed franchise agreement with SPIRE
• An agreement with the Shelby County Parks and Recreation Authority for the restroom project at Veterans Park in an amount not to exceed $12,316.99
• An agreement with C&W Concrete for the concrete pad needed for the Veterans Park restroom project in the amount not to exceed $9,800
• The appointment of animal control officers as agents
• An adjustment to the pay rate of the city’s municipal judge from $43,000 to $48,000
• Setting a public hearing for Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. to fix the cost of abatement of 1305 Navajo Trail by placing a lien on the property
• Setting a public hearing for Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. for the demolition of a structure located at 373 Simmsville Road

The next regularly scheduled Alabaster City Council meeting will take place on Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. A work session has been scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.