Mayor Bryon Monohon has called a special public meeting of the Forks City Council to discuss the recent resignation of Forks Police Chief Doug Price.

The meeting is set for the City Council Chambers beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6.

Price announced his resignation at the Monday, Sept. 26 meeting of the City Council.

A search for a new police chief is underway, with an ad for the position in this issue of the Forks Forum, plus the placement of ads on law enforcement recruitment websites.

Monohon provided details of Price’s resignation letter to the Forks Forum. He said Price stated that he was “very concerned about the level of staffing needed for a successful department.” The outgoing chief, the mayor said, saw the need for six police officers, a sergaent and a lieutentant to assist the chief, a staffing level well above the current set up in the department.

“We’re not in a position to afford it,” Monohon commented. “He (Price) wanted it faster than we were able to come up with it.”

Monohon said a budget for the Forks Police Department being proposed for the upcoming City of Forks fiscal year would have exceeded the current city expense budget.

There were also personal issues stated in the letter, Monohon said, with a few comments made about him in his position as mayor, one in regards to correcting Price on one occasion in front of others.

Monohon said the Thursday night meeting will be straightforward, with the council members asking questions with an aim of finding direction in finding a replacement for Price, who is leaving his post at the end of the month.

“The council decided to sit together on Thursday (in a special meeting),” Monohon said, in part to let the public know how they are proceeding on the issue.

The mayor called Price a “nice guy, really professional,” and said he has “gotten back in the saddle and is quietly doing his job” following the surprise announcement that he was resigning.