Item B1: Approval of City Council Minutes

Metadata

Thumbnails

Annotations

experience would not be ruled out. Mr. Neher said that the council would need to specify exactly what type and extent of experience would warrant a waiver to the master's degree requirement. Ms. Bettman said there should be a statement that the compensation level was under review and not yet established. She pointed out that the council, not the mayor and the council, hired the city manager. She asked that the profile indicate Eugene was the second largest city in the state. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Ms. Taylor, moved to make a master's degree a mini- mum requirement and direct the recruiter to bring forward applicants that were deemed qualified but did not have a master's degree. Mr. Neher pointed out that people without a master's degree would be unlikely to apply if that requirement was stated. Mr. Poling said his recollection of the council's earlier discussion was that a master's degree was preferred, but not required. Mr. Pryor supported requiring a bachelor's degree, with a strong preference for a master's degree instead of requiring a master's but waiving that requirement, which he felt was confusing. Mr. Clark concurred with Mr. Pryor's suggested language. He said there were different approaches to the information that would be used to promote the position and invite applications and the criteria to be used by the recruiters for screening those applications. Mr. Zelenka agreed with requiring a bachelor's degree and stating a preference for a master's, but did not want to screen out applicants without a master's degree. Mr. Neher clarified that the qualifications would be changed from a combination of education and experience to requiring a four-year degree with strong preference for a master's degree. He asked how the council wished to address the experience requirement. Ms. Bettman favored language that required a minimum of a bachelor's degree and described the ideal candidate as possessing a master's degree or comparable experience. City Attorney Glenn Klein summarized Ms. Bettman's proposal as requiring a bachelor's degree, with the ideal candidate having a master's degree or experience that would equate to a master's degree. He said that would not preclude qualified applicants who did not have a master's degree. Mr. Neher concurred with Mr. Klein's summary and stated that the new language would require a four-year degree and specify that the ideal candidate also have a master's degree or experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities equivalent to a master's degree. Mr. Pryor suggested modifying language in the profile to eliminate the reference to a master's degree in the first bulleted item under Education and Experience and adding a third bullet as follows: In addition, a master's degree in public administration, business administration or planning is strongly preferred in selection. A commensurate experience in (to be determined) will also be considered. Ms. Bettman restated her motion to state: The ideal candidate will also have a mas- ter's degree or experience and training that would provide the required knowledge MINUTES—Eugene City Council September 24, 2007 Page 3 Work Session