Elaine Snow was unanimously confirmed as the city’s first woman police chief at the Rome City Commission meeting Tuesday.

“We’re proud of you Elaine, and we’re very proud of our police department,” Mayor Wright Bagby Jr. said.

The 36-year veteran worked her way up through the ranks to beat out 41 other candidates for the job, left vacant since Hubert Smith’s retirement in July. Her salary will be $92,685 a year.

City Manager John Bennett, who made the appointment, said five members of the department were among the 10 finalists remaining after three rounds of review.

Click here to read the complete text of Bennett's statement regarding the search for a new police chief.

“All five internal candidates and many of the external candidates were well qualified, but Elaine came out on top when all things were considered,” he said.

Snow said she had an extensive staff meeting with Interim Chief Lonzo Roberson and Maj. Travis Goss to discuss the direction and goals of the department.

“I also want to talk with and listen to all the employees, civilian and sworn (officers), to see what’s important to them,” she said.

Other immediate plans include moving into her new office, sorting out meeting schedules and continuing the 2011 budget preparations she began in her previous role as the agency’s administrative officer.

“The department is operating well, so there’s no need to step in and start changing things,” Snow said. “We’re going to continue focusing on training, hiring the best-qualified employees and being available to the community.”

In other actions Tuesday, the commission approved a revised 2010 budget that shaves off another $182,000 in expenses.

Commissioner Duane Reid said the spending cuts, now totaling $752,000, are offsetting a decline in revenue — and more cuts are likely in the future.

The board also recognized several departments for professional awards.

The Georgia Association of Water Professionals gave platinum awards to the Bruce Hamler Water Treatment Facility and the Coosa Water Reclamation Facility.

The awards are reserved for water and sewer plant operations that have gone five consecutive years with no permit violations.

The Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council also honored the city’s purchasing department with its 2010 Sterling Agency award for maintaining certification for three consecutive years.