New Gainesville police chief to be sworn in Tuesday

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville's new police chief is scheduled to be sworn in Tuesday.<br /> <br /> Interim Chief Carol Martin was named sole finalist for the position Dec. 23 by City Manager Kip Padgett. Martin has been serving as interim chief since the resignation of Brian Kelly August 29. Padgett said Martin was one of 16 applicants for the job.<br /> <br /> She is to be sworn in at Tuesday's meeting of the Mayor and City Council, much of which will be taken up by first-of-the-year organizational items.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, organizational issues will also be on the agenda when the Hall County Board of Commissioners meets for the first time this year - in a work session Monday and a meeting on Thursday. <br /> <br /> Commissioners will also welcome a new member of the board, Kathy Cooper, who replaces Craig Lutz who chose not to seek re-election last year and instead ran an unsuccessful race for a seat on the state Public Service Commission.<br />