Eupora aldermen have authorized payment of a “transfer reimbursement” to the city of Starkville for a police officer’s training expenses.
The reimbursement involves the training of Officer David Fonseca, who the city of Eupora initially hired as a part-time non-certified police officer trainee in October 2016.
Minutes of the Starkville Board of Aldermen show that board approved his hiring on March 6, 2018, as an entry-level police officer in the Starkville Police Department. Fonseca was then hired as a full-time certified police officer with the Eupora Police Department on Aug. 6, 2018.
Governmental entities are eligible for reimbursement from the state for at least 50 percent of the allowable salary and allowable tuition, living and travel expense incurred by law enforcement officers in attendance at approved training programs. Entities are required to reimburse one another for the proportionate share of the cost of training the law enforcement officer if such agency hires the officer within 36 months of training. The city of Starkville apparently requested reimbursement from the city of Eupora for a share of Fonseca’s training costs, but did not actually file suit.
The Eupora Board of Aldermen met in executive sessions with Police Chief Gregg Hunter regarding an unspecified police department matter during special-called meetings on July 18 and 29.
No action was taken at the former meeting. However, on July 29, meeting minutes state that, after discussion, the board approved a motion to “authorize the city attorney to make an offer of $3,266 based on the fact that David Fonseca worked part time for the city of Eupora, which is one-half of the requested amount from the city of Starkville for reimbursement.” All aldermen were present at that meeting except Robert Gibbs (Ward 4).
Another special-called meeting at 5 p.m. Friday included “police training reimbursement approval” as the first agenda item. Aldermen voted to pay the city of Starkville $3,266.55 for police training expenses to be taken out of reserves. The motion was approved unanimously by the three aldermen present: Jerry Gary (at-large), Howard Rumore (Ward 2) and Hugh Gibson (Ward 3).
Gibson said he thought it was reasonably fair that the city pay that amount and Hunter agreed. City Attorney Jacqueline Meek said after the meeting that the amount Eupora is paying Starkville is actually only one-third of what it requested.
