ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Alexandria City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to appoint attorney Florence Finkle as the city's interim independent policing auditor and to contract with OIR Group, a police oversight firm, to run the office while the city searches for a permanent auditor.

The appointment fills a post that has been vacant since Ameratu Kamara's resignation took effect Oct. 3. Finkle and OIR Group will start Thursday and report directly to council, according to a city news release issued after the meeting.

Council approved the item in a roll-call vote without discussion beyond the wording of the motion. Councilman Abdel Elnoubi made the motion, and Councilman [John] Chapman seconded it. Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley led the meeting, and Mayor Alyia Gaskins took part virtually.