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GREENSBORO - Two City Council members want to create a citizen board to oversee police discipline issues and expand the authority of the city's complaint review committee.

Councilwoman Trudy Wade and Councilman Mike Barber laid out the ideas Friday. For the concept to become reality in Greensboro, the state legislature would have to take up the issue.

The City Council meeting Wednesday is likely to include discussion of those ideas and Wade's suggestions that the council be put in charge of the city attorney and police chief. The council is expected to approve its 2009 legislative agenda.

The changes would make the department more accountable to the public and to the City Council, Wade said.

"We're trying to get trust back into the police department," she said.

Under the current system, the city manager appoints and oversees the chief and the attorney and gives the final word on police discipline issues.

"It seems to me that the goal of this is to weaken the powers of the council-manager system," said Councilman Robbie Perkins. "It's just a way to attack (City Manager) Mitchell Johnson subtly."

Greensboro has a complaint review committee under the Human Relations Commission. The committee hears complaints from residents who accuse the police of misconduct or unfair treatment. The group does not have the power to discipline officers.

"They can make recommendations back to the police department, but they don't have the power to change any outcomes," Police Chief Tim Bellamy said Friday.

Barber said Greensboro should have a complaint review committee with the power to subpoena witnesses - an idea that has been discussed.

"At that time, I didn't feel comfortable with it," Barber said Friday. "But it's a new day in Greensboro."

Barber and Wade would also like for Greensboro to have a civil service board that would hear some police discipline cases and oversee hiring and firing of officers.

Charlotte has a similar kind of board that oversees the police and fire departments.

The recommendation reflects some council members' disappointment with the discipline meted out to some police officers in recent months.

"We have to do something. This may be the way to go," Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw said.

Wade and Barber said they have not solicited support from fellow council members, but they will raise the issue Wednesday.

"The citizens being more involved in the police department would be beneficial to the citizens and the police department," Councilman Zack Matheny said Friday.

Wade also wants the council to ask the legislature to amend Greensboro's charter to put the city's elected body in charge of hiring and firing the police chief and the city attorney.

Wade might have the support of enough fellow council members to get support for the city attorney plan. But the chief issue will be more difficult.

Wade pushed for the move to ensure that the City Council got "unfiltered" information from the city attorney and police chief.

Greensboro and High Point are the only major municipalities in the state where the city attorney is not immediately under the control of elected city officials.

The move has at least two more supporters than last year.

Council members Perkins and Goldie Wells, who voted against the city attorney change last year, indicated they would support it this time.

City Council members have said crime is a top priority, but some members said they do not have enough time to oversee the police chief or do not think that would be appropriate.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com