Last July, in the midst of a battle featuring Girard Mayor James Melfi and former police Chief Frank

Last July, in the midst of a battle featuring Girard Mayor James Melfi and former police Chief Frank Bigowsky, we suggested that a full public airing would be in the best interest of the citizenry.

Our reason: Giving taxpayers a close-up look at some of the stuff that goes on in government would perhaps inspire other public officials to conduct the people’s business in a professional, dedicated manner.

And for a while it appeared that our suggestion had been taken seriously. But then last week an unfortunate thing happened as the Girard Civil Service Commission hearing was heating up, with the mayor preparing to take the stand: Bigowsky and the administration reached an agreement that, in effect, stops all the juicy details from getting out.

In the words of the lawyer representing now patrolman Bigowsky, an “amicable resolution” has been reached.

The only saving grace in this story is that the former chief will never again be the city’s top cop. He has agreed not to sit for any future examination for the position.

However, he will ultimately become a captain in the department. Indeed, he already is receiving captain’s pay.

So, why was Bigowsky demoted in the first place, a demotion that he challenged?

All the reasons may never be known, but among the charges filed against him was this: He taught private classes while on city time.

Common practice?

As we asked in our July editorial, is Bigowsky the only employee in Girard government to work a private job while on city time? We had hoped for an answer from the commission hearing.

We noted that what the former chief was alleged to have done speaks to the larger issue of whether there is a system in place in city government to ensure a full day’s work by each employee.

There also was the charge that he attempted to undermine the civil service hiring process.

Bigowsky denied the charge when he testified at the commission hearing. He contended that all he was attempting to do was ensure the best people were hired as police officers.

The mayor never got the chance to address this issue under oath.

Bigowsky has said that his demotion was in retaliation for a complaint he filed with the civil service commission against the mayor. The complaint was triggered by a shouting match between the mayor and the chief — behind closed doors.

Now, because of the agreement reached last week, all the details of that dust-up may never be known.

We wonder if expediency took precedence over public interest.

It is to be hoped that the upheaval caused by Bigowsky’s demotion, coming on the heels of the controversial tenure of Chief Anthony “Buster” Ross, has given Girard city officials pause.

Those in the public sector in the Mahoning Valley must recognize that taxpayers already view government with a jaundiced eye. A growing number, as evidenced by the defeat of tax levies, wonder if their interests really matter.