Gary board formalizes police chief’s appointment

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Updated: February 27, 2012 9:55AM

GARY — The Board of Public Works and Safety on Wednesday formalized the hiring of Wade Ingram as the city’s new police chief and approved the purchase of new vehicles for the department.

The board also opened more than a dozen bids for two popular federal programs.

While newly elected Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson named Ingram earlier this month, the board’s approval is a formality. Deputy Mayor Delvert Cole, Corporation Counsel Niquelle Allen, both of whom were hired by Freeman-Wilson, sit on the board with Celita Green, a holdover from the previous administration.

The board also approved returning former Police Chief Anthony Stanley and Wayne Brazelton to their former respective ranks of sergeant and corporal.

Thomas Dodge of Highland landed a contract to provide the city with three 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 crew cab box trucks with 4-by-4 capabilities, beating out Bosak Motors, also of Highland.

The board also opened four bids for the federally funded lead remediation program run by Community Development. Each bidder offered prices on removing lead from five Gary homes.

There were nine bidders for Community Development’s Senior Rehab Program, funded by federal Community Development Block Grants. A popular program, it often has a waiting list of at least two years.

The program pays for projects on houses owned by senior citizens. Wednesday’s batch will cover five homes, also.

The Public Works Department’s staff will review the bids and make recommendations back to the board on who should get which contracts.