Two officers hired

Portland will have two new police officers.

During a special meeting Tuesday, Portland Board of Works hired Jagg Nunez and Jonathan Cave as police officers for the city. It also terminated the employment of former wastewater treatment plant superintendent Brad Clayton.

Nunez is a former Portland police department employee, having served from 2018 to 2021. He then took a job with Decatur police.

Cave is currently a deputy marshal in Redkey. He has worked there since July.

Board members Jerry Leonhard, Steve McIntosh and Mayor Jeff Westlake voted unanimously to hire both Nunez and Cave after briefly interviewing both during the meeting.

The department had two positions open — the added position that was approved by Portland City Council earlier this year and another vacated by Patrick Long, who took a job with Winchester police. Portland Police Chief Dustin Mock said the city is talking with Long about repayment for his training at Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. (Officers sign an agreement to reimburse a portion of the cost if they leave the department within three years.)

McIntosh suggested getting Cave to the law enforcement academy as soon as possible.

In a related conversation, board members discussed increasing the repayment amount for officers who leave the department within three years. Mock indicated that costs have gone up, suggesting that the reimbursement be increased to about $20,000 from the current $15,000. The board agreed to discuss the matter at a future meeting.

The board also voted unanimously to terminate Clayton’s employment immediately, with clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips reporting that he has been working for another department while taking time off from Portland. (Board of works members also had a letter from wastewater superintendent Brad Dues.) She noted that such employment is allowed, but only if it does not interfere with work for the city.

Phillips said Clayton has only worked 12 hours in the last four weeks while taking accrued comp time. She added that there have been communication issues between Dues and Clayton, and that his absence has left the wastewater department short-staffed.

Westlake told his fellow board members that he had consulted with city attorney Wes Schemenaur and he agreed there are grounds for termination based on city ordinance and policies.

Also Tuesday, the board approved a water bill adjustment of $71.40 for 303 E. Main St. because of a leak.