Milton mayor addresses police chief's pending retirement

Milton Mayor Marion Jones said last week that the town's police chief will retire in summer 2015.

Jones posted a letter, dated Dec. 12, on the town's website confirming that Chief William Phillips has been placed on terminal leave, which will conclude with his retirement Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015.

In the letter, Jones said council will discuss the hiring process in the near future and that, as a personnel matter, “the specific terms of his employment's resolution with the town are confidential and cannot be discussed further.”

Milton's town charter states that hiring a police chief requires the majority approval of mayor and council. Two other town employee positions – head of maintenance and the town clerk – also require council approval.

Jones said in a Dec. 15 email that a plan for hiring a new police chief will be formulated when the issue is discussed by council. She said the letter was posted "to correct the Christmas card sent by the Chief indicating he was 'retired' and to let the public know the information concerning his employment."

In the Dec. 12 edition of the Cape Gazette, Police Ad Hoc Committee Chair Lynn Ekelund said in a letter to the editor that Phillips announced his retirement last week in a Christmas card.

Phillips could not be reached for comment.