ADVISORY BOARD TO OVERSEE POLICE CONSIDERED BY CITY

The Cape Girardeau City Council will begin discussing plans for a citizen's advisory board to oversee the police department. The council meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The initiative is one that has been touted by the Rev. David Allen, the president of the Cape County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He suggested the idea to Mayor Al Spradling III at a town meeting last week. The meeting had been called to hear concerns of South Side residents upset about a June 11th melee that broke out on Good Hope Street after police made an arrest. Nearly 150 people were involved in the incident, police say.

Spradling thinks the council will develop an advisory board of some kind, but there are some issues that have to be decided before the board can begin operation. He would like to establish a list of qualifications for people interested in serving on the board.

"I think we need people who are free of felony convictions," Spradling said. "The board will have information given to them that I don't think felons should be given."

The council also has to decide whether the board will be elected or appointed. Allen had suggested that each political ward elect members to the board.

But this would involve a change in the city's charter, which makes all advisory boards appointed positions.

Spradling said he favors keeping the system the way it is.

"A change in the city's charter will take time," Spradling said. "I think it will be a lot simpler if we can make the board members appointed. The process of elections also is expensive."

Even if the board was elected, it would not have any more power than any other advisory board in the city, he said.

"None of our boards have any powers other than advice," Spradling said.

Councilman Tom Neumeyer, who represents the city's South Side, agreed. He said the advisory board is just one part of an overall solution.

"I look forward to bringing a resolution to this," he said. "I am looking forward to cooler heads prevailing."

The council also will give final approval to the proposed $34 million budget.

"It is important that will get this taken care of before June 30, because the new fiscal year starts July 1st," Spradling said.