The Polson City Commission appointed the City of Polson Police Chief George Simpson as interim city manager during a special meeting on Thursday, April 23.  

Current City Manager Ed Meece, who has submitted his resignation, recommended Simpson for the position. Meece and Simpson outlined Simpson’s separation from his current role, the responsibilities he will take on, and the transition plan, which was presented to the commission in the supplemental pages.  

Simpson started off his presentation to the commission simply, by jokingly wearing his Montana State University sweatshirt to win over Bobcat parent, Mayor Laura Dever. He told them that he considers this part of his oath as a police officer to serve in this position, and that he is interested in keeping the city on track.  

He added that he already has relationships with all the department heads and understands to some extent what they are all working on. The short-term plan, Simpson said, is to learn all the details he needs to and “basically be tied to Mr. Meece’s hip,” until he leaves.  

“The other beauty of it is that I run a complex organization, public safety on the reservation, dealing with federal, state, tribal, local, all these different levels, requires so many conversations with all these other leaders and working that out,” Simpson said. “And it does as well in that position.”  

Meece's recommendation of Simpson included that he will be in civilian clothes, performing the job full-time as city manager. The document from Meece stated that Simpson would receive the current pay rate and vehicle allowance that the current city manager's role receives.  

Simpson has been accepted into the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., to advance his law enforcement training. His training will take place from Sept. 28 until Dec. 10 and he will return to Polson after the training.  

The academy is a 10-week professional training program that provides education in United States and international law enforcement. Simpson explained in a separate interview with the Leader that he is only aware of one Polson chief attending the academy before him, and it is an honor to attend, as he has been on the waitlist for six years.  

“I want to continue to drive forward and stay relevant. Be up on the technology and the cutting-edge police science, and whatever we can bring to the community to make it the best police department in the state,” he said.  

Simpson detailed during the meeting that he would only be available to serve as city manager from the time Meece leaves on May 15 until he leaves for the academy on Sept. 21.  

He is already preparing his staff for his absence while he is at the academy, and Captain Mathieu Gfroerer will take over operational control of the department. He noted that, if appointed interim city manager, his involvement with the police department would be limited to emergent situations requiring executive leadership.  

“It would not be transformational leadership for me. It would be stability, keeping with the continuity of it, not running any agenda that I have, but running the agenda that the city commission has and setting us up for the best success for the next city manager,” Simpson said.  

Simpson has a master's degree in public administration from the University of Montana, but has no intent to become the permanent city manager.  

Commissioner Lisa Rehard expressed concern about the timeline for this turnaround, as hiring a new city manager can be a lengthy process. In Meece’s experience, the process should take four to six months. He said Rehard is right, and the city could be in a position where the search isn’t complete before Simpson leaves.  

Rehard asked what would happen if they ended up in a position without a city manager, and Simpson said that was a great point and that there should be a plan in place. He said that if the search doesn’t yield a manager before he leaves, they need to look at the current administration and determine whether someone else can serve as the manager.  

Simpson said they won’t wait until the 11th hour to figure out that plan. Meece added that there is additional talent on the team, and they should have a backup plan.  

Dever asked whether Simpson would be willing to step back into the interim position when he returns from training if they are still looking for a manager. Simpson said he would, but he would give them another dead date.  

“My predecessor did it for two plus years. That was not the plan, and it didn’t ultimately go the greatest,” he said.  

Former Police Chief Wade Nash served as city manager for two years before the city hired Meece. Nash was arrested for DUI in 2023 and “officially retired” from his role after the incident, according to previous Leader reporting.  

Simpson said he is a planner and believes in setting rules and end dates because that motivates people.  

“I will do the duty that the city needs me to do. I believe I should do that, but I'm the chief of police,” he said.  

Commissioner Carolyn Pardini was absent from the meeting. However, the present commissioners unanimously voted to have Simpson serve as the interim.  

Moving forward to find a new manager 

Also on the agenda was a vote on whether to hire in-house, hire a facilitator to help handle the process or hire a recruiting firm. Meece conducted research on hiring a firm and found that it could cost the city $20,000 to $40,000, depending on the scope of services.  

Meece said cities use either option based on their budgets and capabilities, or comfort in handling the process themselves.  

He had already identified a possible facilitator, Susan Nicosia, the former city manager of Columbia Falls. This position would ensure things are on track, that candidates are being contacted, and provide an outside perspective. He estimated that a facilitator may cost around $100 an hour.  

Meece suggested that the commission should sit down and have a “very frank discussion” about the city manager's job description and discuss what they are looking for in the next city manager.  

“The city commission that hired me is not the city commission that I'm sitting in front of today,” he said. “It's a commission that has its own set of priorities and values, and so I think that's the first thing you would want to do.” 

Commissioner Jen Ruggless motioned for the city to do an in-house search for a new city manager. The commission voted for the motion. 

Commissioner Rehard said she believes a facilitator would speed up the process and that they should involve a facilitator earlier rather than later. As the commission discussed hiring a facilitator and possibly who that would be, Mayor Dever added that they have a very capable staff and that, if the process is starting to take longer, they can hire a recruiting firm.  

During the discussion, a handful of public comments supported community involvement or a community committee.  

“I really agree with Ed (Meece’s) point. Your role in this process will go as well as you define who you want the next city manager to be,” said Dave Rittenhouse, a commissioner on the Polson Local Government Review Study Commission.  

“You're going to be able to look back and say what worked well, what could have been improved, not only for yourself, but for your department head. And you probably need to figure out a way to get out in the community,” Rittenhouse added.  

Dever said Meece suggested to her having committees composed of commissioners and staff to help with the process, and she said that if the motion passes, they could institute it.  

Onto the next agenda item, Rehard motioned for the city to hire a facilitator, which would be determined and hired at a later date.  

The next regular commission meeting is Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m. in the commission chambers.