There’s concern about the process City of Fairbanks Mayor Jim Matherly used to review applicants vying to be the city’s next police chief. During a city council meeting last night, there were public comments critical of a process that screened out some applicants prior to the interview stage. Mayor Matherly explained a step in the process, in which Juneau Police Chief Ed Mercer and consultant Greg Russel screened applications. "They reviewed the 18 applications we got. We got 18 of them, and the reviewed every resume for minimum and preferred experience and qualifications." Matherly said Mercer and Russel selected 10 candidates to be interviewed by a local review committee. The panel ultimately selected 5 finalists for participation in a public forum scheduled for tonight. Although the council was sent a memo about the process on January 25, Council member Valerie Therrien took issue with the mayor’s lack of transparency about the screening process.