Wendell — Town commissioners don’t seem very interested in helping Town Manager David Bone select the town’s next police chief.

After turning down a request from Bone to employ a headhunter to assist in the search, commissioners stymied Bone’s efforts last Thursday to get input from the board about what qualities they think Bone should look for in a new top cop.

After commissioners rejected his plans to use a consulting firm, Bone decided to move forward with the process himself.

Two weeks ago, he convened a town hall-style meeting to get input from the public.

On Thursday night, it was the commissioners’ turn.

Commissioner Carol Hinnant said she didn’t understand why they were being asked for input.

“We’ve got a very good job description in the personnel manual already,” Hinnant said. “I don’t know what else you want from us.”

Commissioner Ronald Thompson agreed with Hinnant. “Thank you, Carol,” Thompson said after Hinnant questioned the need for the meeting.

Bone agreed that they job description the town has is a thorough one, but he told commissioners it does not set priorities among the differing job skills when a vacancy occurs.

Mayor Harold Broadwell questioned Hinnant about the job description, saying he hadn’t seen it.

That remark drew a sharp rebuke from Hinnant who said he should have familiarized himself with the job description before Thursday night’s meeting.

Broadwell countered by suggesting that the meeting was an opportunity for all the town’s elected leaders to offer their own take on the matter.

“You want me to not benefit by your experience? I’m offended by that,” Broadwell said.

Hinnant replied that it was Broadwell’s responsibility to know what skills are needed in a new chief.

After debating the need for meeting, commissioners finally began offering Bone some feedback.

They suggested that the new police chief needs to be a good communicator and someone who is receptive to the public.

Commissioner Sid Baynes said he would encourage Bone to hire someone who will advocate strongly for the department’s needs.

“We need a chief who will come in here (before commissioners) and into the manager’s office and fight for the things the department needs. I want them to swing for it,” Baynes said.

Commissioners were also adamant that Bone strongly consider in-house candidates.

“I realize that hiring and firing is your little red wagon,” Thompson told Bone. “But I would strongly recommend that we look within our own department if we have a real qualified person.”

Commissioner Buddy Scarboro agreed. He said he had worked under several different Raleigh fire chiefs during his career with that department and that morale suffered within the department when the Raleigh city manager opted to hire someone from outside the department.

But he also said Bone should pick the best person for the job.

“You’ve got to remember if you hire from inside and it works great, great, but when it doesn’t it stinks,” Scarboro said.

Bone told commissioners he hopes to complete the hiring process by mid-July ahead of the July 31 retirement of police Chief Joe Privette.