HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-11-11-RTMS-min
TOWN MANAGER SEARCH COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 11, 2004
The first meeting of the Regular Town Manager Search Committee was called to order at 5 PM
on Thursday, November 11, 2004 at the Police Station, Lexington, MA by committee chair Janet
Perry.
introduced
1. Those present themselves. Members in attendance: Martha Wood, Scott
Wilson, Janet Perry, Barrie Peltz, Richard Pagett, William Middlemiss, Don Marquis, Henry Liu,
Bill Kennedy, Olga Guttag, Bebe Fallick, Robert Cataldo, Susan Bottan, Cathy Abbott.
Finance committees’ liaisons in attendance: Deborah Brown (Appropriation) and Shirley Stolz
(Capital Expenditures).
Open Meeting Law
2. Ms. Perry reviewed provisions of the as applicable to the work of
this committee.
Handouts
3. included:
??Committee charge
??Job description
??Recruitment process timeline
??Memo to Board of Selectmen (10/14/04) summary of feedback from Town
Manager recruitment meetings with citizens and staff
??Additional input from Appropriation Committee re Town Manager selection
Discussion about the handouts included several questions about the job description. Mr. Pagett
explained that the description had been reviewed by Lexington Moderator Margery Battin, an
author of and an authority on the Selectmen-Town Manager Act. Members were referred to the
Town website to read the text of this law.
It was MOVED (Ms. Guttag) and seconded that “Massachusetts” be removed from the
description of administrative and supervisory experience in municipal management (Job
Description page 4, Experience). The motion was adopted unanimously.
It was MOVED (Mr. Liu) and seconded that the Experience section (page 4) of the Job
Description by amended to read Qualifications and Experience. The motion was adopted
unanimously.
The timeline was modified to reflect the later start in committee appointments and hiring of the
consultant. It is expected that the position will be posted in the week of November 15, 2004.
Using the Job Description for the Interim Town Manager as a basis, members suggested several
changes.
??include management of the capital budget
??develop and implement Board [of Selectmen] policies
Several members sought a statement of the Town’s commitment to diversity and antiracism. Ms.
Bottan offered to provide examples of inclusive language in school department hiring practices.
Process including role of Search Firm
4. was discussed. Many questions were posed that
will be directed to the consultant, Tom Groux. Members were asked to review the advertisement
and the recruitment brochure and prepare suggestions for changes. Confidentiality of applicants
will be protected and members concurred that resumes would not circulate. It was suggested that
interviews be scripted to provide consistency.
Future meetingsscheduled
5. were from 5:30-7 PM on Thursdays November 18,
December 2 and December 9. Ms. Perry will try to schedule meeting space in the Town Office
Building. It is hoped that Mr. Groux will be available to meet with the committee on November
18.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Abbott
Recorder for the Committee