There is still a buzz about last month's gang violence forum.

When a resident at Monday's City Council meeting complained about the Daily Local's coverage of the forum and asked Chief William Matthews to explain his comments in the article, Matthews backed down.

“The statement (in the story) wasn’t in context,” Matthews said. "... My mistake was having a frank and candid conversation with the press there ... I saw that (headline) on Sunday morning, and I can’t describe how I felt about it.”

The chief's feeling that he erred by being "frank and candid" with the press, and in turn with the public, is unsettling.

But aside from that, here is a link to 10-plus minutes of raw video footage the Daily Local shot of Matthews speaking at the gang forum, so Roundtable readers can evaluate Matthews' message themselves.

You will probably have to endure a quick advertisement before the video begins, and when it does start, crank the volume. The audio is not great.

At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, members approved changes to Police Chief William Matthews' contract that allows him an additional year to complete his Act 120 certification.

A majority of councilmembers also voted in favor of renewing City Manager Harry Walker's contract for three more years.

Walker said he looked forward to playing a leadership role in Coatesville's rebirth, but he was not eager to spend another three years refereeing City Council's infighting.

“This has been an interesting trip,” Walker said about his past two years in Coatesville. “I came in here thinking I was going to save Coatesville from gross fiscal mismanagement. I didn’t think I was getting into a gunfight at the OK Corral.”

Councilman Ed Simpson cast "no" votes against amending Matthews' contract and extending Walker's term. Martin Eggleston voted against the Matthews resolution and abstained from voting on Walker's contract.

He later said, for the record, he did not support renewing the city manager's agreement with the city.

Here's the agenda for tonight's City Council meeting. Police Chief William Matthews and City Manager Harry Walker's contracts are expected to be discussed.

But remember what happened two weeks ago.

The promise of an action packed City Council meeting Monday night fell short amid a flurry of additions and deletions to the agenda (here it is in it's original form).

Among the items tabled by council were two resolutions: one that would have had council vote whether to renew City Manager Harry Walker's contract, and a second that, if passed, would have amended Police Chief William Matthews' contract allowing him another year to get his Act 120 certification.

Here's a link to the story I wrote live from Monday's meeting and another to the follow up in Wednesday's paper. They're pretty similar.

Only weeks after Coatesville Police Department appeared to get its head above water, regarding staffing, the situation is looming again.

The department has three vacancies now, plus two officers who have informed the chief of their intentions to retire soon.

Compound that with the poor showing by applicants on the recent civil service test -- only three passed, not enough for the city to start an eligibility list -- and the city has decided to continue the use of the provisional hiring process to fill the patrols.

Chief William Matthews talked about his first year as Coatesville's top cop in a story printed Sunday.

Among the revelations, the chief called his first year in the city a "whirlwind" and said Coatesville is his last stop before retirement.

Matthews continued not to give any more details about the medical condition that has prevented him from proceeding with getting state certification, but he said the condition has not caused him to miss any work. If the problem worsens, and he feels he cannot meet the responsibilities of his job, Matthews said he would willingly step down.

The following are some things Matthews said that did not make it into the newspaper.

About Lt. Julius Canale:

"(He has) demonstrated what true professionalism is all about ... When the gong has gotten tough he has been there ... Nothing accomplished this year would have been possible without the kind of professionalism and dedication he has exhimbited."

About the scheduled retirement of Detective Martin Quinn in June:

"I don't want him to go. These older, cooler heads who have been around know the city ... I have to figure out what makes him happy."

Matthews also announced the promotion of two officers lat week. Sgt. Rita Shesko has been promoted to acting lieutenant and Cpl. Jonathan Regan has been elevated to acting sergeant. Both will retain their "acting" status until they pass the promotion exam in the fall.