I asked Ronald Townsend and Brian Spencer about the Council Executive Committee and what other council members participated in their meetings.
Townsend:
We had a rating and ranking committee comprised of Megan Pratt, John Jerralds, Brian Spencer and myself. This committee worked separately and individually. We had in excess of 40 plus applicants to review.
After that process, we met collectively (note: meeting was announced). During that meeting, we screened the applicants down to the top 10 or 12 (note: I don’t recall the exact number, but the purpose of the meeting was to ensure we were in conformity with our rating schemes and not miles apart).
During the meeting, it was decided to secure an outside professional organization to further the top 10 that remained (note: you can get the name of the firm from Mary Stalcup).
After that process, each committee member had a separate meeting with the representative from the firm (note: my meeting was 1:30 p.m. on 19 July). It is my understanding that the top 2 candidates will be invited for an interview. It is also my understanding that the interviews will be held separately with each council member. No agreement has been made on the salary.
Spencer:
Copies of the completed applications (format authored by Dir. of Human Resources, Mary Ann Stalcup) were distributed to the 4 committee members, and a date was established for each member to submit their rankings, grades, or comments as they may pertain to the applicants.
Each committee member was given the latitude to create and use their own method to differentiate a candidate’s ranking or score. (for example, I used “+” and “++” to highlight my list of finalists).
Subsequently, a committee meeting location/date/time was properly advertised, and the committee convened at the advertised location (City Hall, 4th floor, conference room).
Facilitator of the meeting was the Director of Human Resources, and the attendees were me, Townsend, Pratt, and DeWeese. We waited for Jerralds for a short time before we were told he called in to inform us that he would not be participating.
DeWeese shared some comments and her perspective about the contemplated position and what qualities might be appropriate for the position. Shortly after the casual conversation among the four council members (Jerralds absent) and Mary Ann Stalcup, DeWeese excused herself and the remaining council members convened.
