At a special called meeting Tuesday, April 13, the 911 Commission hiring committee presented their top three recommendations to the full board. The board had the opportunity to voice concerns and questions to the committee and hear the reasons why the top three were chosen.
After a brief discussion, the motion was made to hire the committee’s recommendation without further interviews.
The members put in over 13 hours of committee time plus numerous hours individually going over the applications, resumes and requirements. Each potential candidate was asked the same 32 questions that were vetted by legal counsel.
The short list for the position included, in alphabetical order, Bernard J. Brown of Danville, Va., not employed; Anthony Summers of Port Allen, Assistant Director, Baton Rouge Office of Emergency Management; and Kim Tolliver of Shreveport, Chief of Communications, Shreveport Fire Department.
Tolliver was the committee’s unanimous recommendation with members citing her knowledge of mapping, vision for the district and personality among other traits. The next step will be offering Tolliver the job and contract negotiations. Base salary was approved at $80,000-$90,000 plus benefits.
This was also the first meeting with the new commissioners. In a letter dated March 30, Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. advised the 9-1-1 Commission he was appointing Calvin Braxton as his representative to the 9-1-1 Board of Commissioners.
Braxton replaced long-time 9-1-1 Commissioner, Jack P. McCain Jr., who served on the Commission since the inception of the 9-1-1 Communications District in Natchitoches Parish in 1986. Also, interim Natchitoches Police Chief Harman Winters will serv, filling the vacancy left with the retirement of Chief Micky Dove, until a permanent Police Chief is appointed.