Hennessey Police Chief Hank Weber’s resignation was accepted by the town board then named Assistant Police Chief Ed Cangiano as interim chief in a special meeting Thursday morning.

Weber, a 1988 Hennessey High School graduate, returned to his hometown as police chief in August 2009.

Weber cited the need to find a higher-salaried position elsewhere in his resignation letter, and said he understood the town’s economic constraints that made it impossible for him to earn more as chief.

His salary is $50,000 a year. Benefits include three weeks vacation, 100% paid health, vision, dental and life insurance, and 6% retirement match.

Weber accepted a job in Colorado, Mayor Bert Gritz told the board, and said he wished Weber was at the meeting so he could thank him for his service.

His resignation was effective Sept. 11, but The Times & Free Press was told after the meeting that he had not been in the office for the past few days.

Cangiano was hired as Hennessey’s first assistant chief in December 2018, and started on the job in February 2019. He wasn’t in Thursday’s meeting either, but said after the meeting he’d made himself available to the board during the meeting if they had any questions.

His assistant chief pay is $47,500 a year plus benefits. He was appointed as the town’s emergency management director last month, and is expected to take Hennessey’s seat on the County E-911 board.

Richard Simunek, board member, asked about hiring Cangiano as permanent chief.

Gritz said he’d check with Administrator Tiffany Tillman to see if they are required to advertise for that position.

Tillman was not at the meeting. She was in COVID quarantine due to being in close contact with someone who tested positive, Gritz said. She was expected to return to work Monday.

About interim chief

“I officially start as interim chief at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11 and I look forward to the challenge of the job,” said Cangiano, the father of five. “My wife, Stephanie, and I fell in love with Hennessey and the people as soon as we got here,” he said.

She works from home for Axon Enterprise, a tech company that makes tasers and other equipment used by law enforcement, he said.

The family was unable to find land in Hennessey to build a home so they built one in Waukomis, he said. Cangiano’s experience

Cangiano’s experience

Before coming to Hennessey, he was the senior master instructor at the TASER Training Academy in Scottsdale, Ariz. 2009-16; patrol lieutenant at the Bethany Police Department, 1997-16, and an Oklahoma County deputy sheriff, 1993-98. Cangiano was in the U.S.

Cangiano was in the U.S. Air Force Security Forces,1984-93, and served in the Air Force Reserve as a Staff Master Sgt.,1993-12 when he retired from service.

His education includes criminal justice/police science at the Community College of the Air Force, and business administration and management classes at Southwestern College.

Town applies for CARES money

The board approved a resolution to apply for $170,000 in CARES Act funds for “substantially dedicated” expenses due to the town’s COVID-19 response efforts.

That’s the maximum the town could qualify for although Tillman’s written COVID expenses report shows $281,597.30 in total expenses ($4,441.37 in supplies for fire and police safety and disinfection of public areas; $82,952.34 for contractual ambulance services, and $194,203.59 in dedicated COVID payroll expenses).

Motors for water plant

The board voted to purchase a new reverse osmosis 60 hp electric motor for the water plant from Worth Hydrochem of Norman for $9,423.47.

In an emailed report to the board, Tillman wrote they need both motors working at the same time to keep up with summer needs, and suggested an old motor be repaired so they’d have a spare.

There are two backup pumps at the plant, but no backup motors, Kubat told the board, so they also opted to repair one of the old motors.

She said the best case scenario for repair costs is $2,340, and the worst case is $4,327.80.

“They won’t know until they check it out,” she said.