LAWRENCE — In a rare and angry appearance before the City Council's Ordinance Committee, Mayor William Lantigua lobbied hard last night to kill a proposal that would eliminate the deputy police chief's job.
The mayor angrily and repeatedly challenged remarks by City Councilor Marc Laplante and police Chief John Romero that Laplante's measure was not politically motivated.
Lantigua characterized Laplante's proposal as an effort "by a small group" that "wants to try to hurt" acting police Deputy Chief Melix Bonilla, who the mayor has nominated for the permanent position.
"It is about politics and more than that," the mayor told the committee.
"If you don't read what I read, you're not only blind of sight, you're also blind of conscience," Lantigua said.
The mayor's emotional testimony influenced the committee to vote 3-1 to refer the article to the full council with a recommendation to withdraw it. If two more councilors back that recommendation at Tuesday's full council meeting, the proposal will fail.
A special Personnel Committee meeting has been called before that council meeting to consider Bonilla's appointment. That committee voted last week to delay a recommendation on whether to confirm Bonilla, pending the outcome of Laplante's proposal.
If the Personnel Committee decides to refer Bonilla's appointment to the full council — even without a recommendation, Bonilla could be confirmed Tuesday.
At last night's meeting, the mayor reiterated his confidence in Bonilla, who served as Lantigua's campaign manager in last fall's mayoral election. He vowed to "fight to keep Mr. Bonilla" as deputy chief.
"When, and if, Mr. Romero leaves, I will name (Bonilla) interim police chief," the mayor said.
The appointment of Bonilla, a 22-year veteran, has been controversial since Lantigua made it in January.
Lantigua promoted Bonilla from the rank of sergeant to acting deputy chief after Lantigua's inauguration as mayor in January. Michael Driscoll, who was named deputy in 2007 by Mayor Michael Sullivan, on Romero's recommendation, was demoted to captain.
Romero, who was invited by Ordinance Committee Chairwoman Eileen Bernal to attend last night's meeting, told the committee he would have supported the elimination of the deputy chief's position even if Driscoll were still deputy chief.
"If the circumstances were the same," Romero said in an answer to a question by council President Frank Moran.
Romero said the fiscal situation made it clear that there was no longer a need for a deputy chief, pointing out that the city's police force had dwindled by 41 positions to 110. The 41 positions that were eliminated resulted in 24 layoffs. Six other people who would have been laid off got other police jobs. The number of superior officers was reduced from 39 to 28, according to the chief.
"Essentially, everybody is on patrol. ... All the units are gone," Romero said, noting that the number of divisions have been reduced from four to "one and a quarter" — the patrol division and a skeleton detective division.
If the Police Department were restored to its previous manpower, the chief said, "I'd be the first one to say we need it."
But Moran didn't accept the chief's explanation.
"If Mike Driscoll were with us right now, it wouldn't make it this far," Moran said.
"There is no argument — point blank — this is politically motivated."
At the outset of his testimony, the mayor emphasized his outrage, yelling out "It's b s ."
After the meeting, Laplante condemned the mayor's use of profanity.
"I thought it was unprofessional," Laplante said in an interview. "We expect a higher level of dialogue. I was very disappointed. I expect more from him."
Bernal expressed her disappointment about the tone of the meeting.
"As a body, we're better than the sniping comments that were made on both sides," she said. Bernal cast the lone vote against Moran's motion to withdraw Laplante's proposal.
Councilors Oneida Aquino and Sandy Almonte supported Moran.
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