City approves contract to share deputy chief

The San Mateo City Council voted 4-1 last night to approve a contract to allow its deputy police chief to take over the Burlingame Police Department for a year while the two cities consider an eventual merger of police services. Only Councilman David Lim voted against the contract, saying it opened up San Mateo to potential liabilities associated with Deputy Police Chief Mike Callagy's actions while serving as interim chief in Burlingame. The stance did not sit well with Mayor John Lee. "With all due respect to you. I know you are good at reading contracts but you are not our city attorney," Lee said to Lim. City Attorney Shawn Mason said there was a certain amount of risks both cities were taking in entering the agreement and that it was either council's decision whether to accept the risks. The Burlingame City Council had the topic on its agenda at its meeting last night but was delayed by a long discussion on high-speed rail. Callagy is being brought in because he is open to the potential merger, a move that could save both cities substantial revenue. The Burlingame Police Department has lost eight officers in the past seven years and is in the process of cutting three more to balance the fiscal year 2010-2011 budget. "... There needs to be a clear champion of the shared services exploration efforts in order to give it a fair chance for possible success," Nantell said in a staff report to the Burlingame City Council. Capt. Ed Wood is currently the acting chief in Burlingame. Lim suggested Callagy be hired as Burlingame's full-time chief so San Mateo wouldn't be subject to any potential liabilities related to the contract. "If we approve this contract, I essentially see this as a merger," Lim said. The contract is worth more than $240,000 with Burlingame covering 80 percent of it and Callagy will technically answer to both cities. A provision in the contract calls for Nantell and San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer settle any disputes amongst themselves if a disagreement evolves. Either party can get out of the contract with a 30-day notice. Burlingame police have been working without a contract now for 16 months, according to Burlingame police Officer Jim Hutchings, vice president of the Burlingame Police Officer's Association. Hutchings has said administrators are already in place in Burlingame to lead the department and at a lesser cost. The BPOA wants Wood, the department's acting chief, and Capt. Mike Matteucci to keep their current positions. If Burlingame does not realize at least a $500,000 savings a year with a potential merger, it is likely the two departments will not merge, Nantell said previously. As interim chief, Callagy would work with Manheimer and leadership from both departments to study the possibilities of dispatch consolidation and additional shared services. Burlingame estimates sharing dispatch would mean about $200,000 in savings. The two cities will hire a consultant for about $40,000 to help crunch the numbers and provide an objective analysis of potential cost savings of a potential merger. Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.