08/25/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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to combine ERA appointments with those for other positions [in January] but he wasn't interested in the Council's becoming involved in a lot of other appointments that couldn't be done any better than tbe Mayor was now doing. Councilman Murray empha- e sized that he was not suggesting any change in who made the appointments. Councilwoman Shirey thought the Council should have the list that had been prepared by Randi Reinhard, planning, of various groups in the metropoli tan area in \'Ihich citizens could participate. Also, that the list should be sent to neighborhood groups to provide a starting point for gaining the interest of potential candidates. She suggested setting a period of time after an opening occurred so names of those in- . terested could be submitted before an appointment was made. Councilman Haws recognized that those knowing Council members or who were aware of local government interests might be appointed. He thought, however, a citizen interest form wou,Id provide a pool of people who would like to participate and at least, he said, improve public relations. He agreed there should be some warning when vacancies are expected, as in the case of ERA terms expiring in July. Councilwoman Bea] thought weeding out candidates by neighborhood groups might be well s,ince the groups usually were familiar with qualifications of people who wanted to become involved and voting took place within the groups to determine those persons preferred. Councilman Keller didn't think that was a neighborhood association func- tion. Also, having someone chosen at that level and then turned down at the Council level could create bad feeling. He thought some explanation should be provided of what was expected from those offering to serve to avoid the usual ratio of 50% of the membership doing 100% of the work. Councilman Murray C'I/vis.ioned under his proposal a fairly ambitious pub.l.ic.ity cam- pa.i<]n throu')/) nci(lh))()J"hood grOl/l's, the media, etc., giving d.ll. pertinent information to gain cand.ida tes, and d procedure determined by the Counci,I for selecting appointees. e Councilman fJradlelj left the meeting. Councilman Keller could SOl.' si ft ing through maybe 800 appl.ications to fill about 21 vacancies, hut Mr. Murray thouyht limitations in terms ot appointments would have to he !; 1:.:1 Lcd, all cilnrljIJdll'.'; w(lllld know hr)!., many would } II..' se1E.'ct:ed. Mayor Anderson recoqn.ized the I'Toposal as an attempt to bu,ilcl a "talent bank." 1/13 said some were already available - RSVP, 8Pt.;, and several other c.ivic organizations had members ,interestfc.d in s<:Jrving local government. lfc thought a ci ti zen interest form or some other. repository for names of cit,izens from ,those groups, or from other sources, would be helpful. His main concern was that there weren't enough positions on boards and commissions invoJvecJ in a great deal of act,ivity to warrant solicitation of applications. 110 thought tlJere would be the advantage of focusing attention on the dctiv-i ties of .some bod,ies if vilC"iJnc.ies wen? announced and na/ll(~S openly solicited. Councilman Murray thought there would not have to be a specialized search for all posi- tions, but that there could be improvement in broadening the hase from which to select some of the professional type appointments. And he said it was important to keep the reappointment proce,ss open, that it should go through the public process. Just be- cause a person had on,II} seeved one term, he said, didn't mean reappointment should. be automatic. Mayor Anderson sa.id that reappointment had not been automatic, that only after inqu.iry had heen malle as to interest, attendance, performance, etc., was reappo.intment considered. Even then, he said, many persons asked to be relieved of the~r assignments. Manager thought timing of Council consideration of appointments was important. For -- t:hose t:erms starting in .January, he said, information with regard to persons avail- able for service should probably be circulated to the Council in November or earlier. Councill<'oman Beal noted I:haL~ ill election years that could result in "lame duck" appointments. . 48S 8/25/75 - 21