FERRIDAY — The Ferriday Board of Aldermen is taking up a call to make the town’s police chief appointments more democratic.

The board recently adopted a resolution seeking permission from the state legislature to alter the town charter to make the police chief’s position elected instead of appointed.

The town’s current arrangement is for the mayor to appoint the police chief, town clerk and town attorney at the beginning of each new term. The board ratifies the appointment, but members have no say in who is brought to the table for approval.

The issue was last considered in 2012, prior to the current town administration taking office, but failed by a vote of 3-2.

Alderman Stepper Banks raised the issue both times, saying he renewed the discussion because the current system leaves the town government prone to “dictatorship.”

“Over the last 40 to 50 years, it has always been under a dictatorship,” Banks said. “The people have the right to elect who they want to serve them.”

Town attorney Myisha Davis said a change to the charter would have to be reflected in the will of the town’s people as well.

“The board would have to put it on the ballot, and the people would have to do decide if it becomes an elected position,” Davis said.

The attorney said she will be researching and taking more information to the board for its next meeting.

Alderwoman Gail Pryor said the board is looking at the possibility of having the change to the town’s charter on the 2016 ballot.

“I support Mr. Banks regarding speaking with our representatives about the feasibility of an elected police chief as opposed to an appointed police chief,” she said.

Pryor said she wasn’t sure if the issue would be raised again if the current effort is unsuccessful.

“All of this is contingent on 2016 anyway, so it may be a whole new set of people (on the board) at that time anyway,” she said.

Alderwoman Gloria Lloyd, the only board member to vote against the proposal, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Since the 2012 proposal, the town has had two appointed police chiefs, Richard Madison — who was fired in April 2014, reportedly over unsolved burglaries — and Derrick Freeman.

At the time of Freeman’s appointment, several board members voiced a preference that former police chief Johnny Evans, who was chief at the time of the 2012 attempt, be named. Pryor supported Freeman’s appointment.