11/23/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Bradley wondered if interviews had been started. Manager noted e they would start Monday, November 28. Mr. Bradley wondered if any thought had been given to allowing City Councilors to sit in on the interviews and participate in asking questions but not recommend selection. Mr. Lieuallen responded he thought the City Charter stated that Councilors could not be directly involved or attempt to influence any appointment or selection. Stan Long, City Attorney, said a Councilor would have to ask himself why he was wanting to sit in on the interviews; and, if it were an attempt to direct selection, citizens of Eugene could ask for forfeiture of office. He said he was suggesting there had to be a good reason for a Councilor to be present. Mr. Haws said in reading over the materials, he wondered if, generally speaking, the flak catcher job had not been changed, renamed, with hiring two people to do the same job. Manager said there were a number of significant differences. The flak catcher position is to handle complaints for all the city and not necessarily to work and do research only for City Councilors. He said the Council Assistants were much expanded in the areas of serving City Council. Mr. Obie said by and large he had favorable response to the memo as outl; ned. His main concern was regarding potential confidentiality of the City Councilors' requests, wondering how a proposed request might be treated, if it would be just between the Councilor and the Council Assistant. City Manager replied if the request were to be made public, the staff of City Manger's office would have to have a chance e to review the 'research done and talk to the Councilor prior to its coming up for public discussion. Mr. Obie said he understood that procedure but he was more concerned about a proposal that might be researched, then never get to the point of pUblic discussion. City Attorney said, in terms of a written documents, there is a classifi- cation of exempt pUblic documents. When a document concerns itself with advisory preliminary free-thinking ideas, it could be classified advisory and would be exempt from public disclosure. He said City Manager would have to decide if staff should not disclose. Assistant Manager noted staff was very sensitive to the concerns about confidentiality. He said staff understood Council wanted to explore ideas and noted there seemed to be a feeling among staff that Councilors felt staff and department heads would get up-tight if these ideas were explored. He said this matter had been discussed with various depart- ment heads. The major concern of staff and department heads was that Councilors viewed staff as being etched in certain postures that would not help Councilors deal with issues or would want to explore other options. He continued, staff felt Council Assistants would be of high quality and would be producing quality work, but that it would not be work resulting from one single person. He said the Council Assistant would be working with others in exploring the views. Staff will understand the confidentiality. He said they were trying to be very sensitive to that and want to give Councilors good staff work. e 11/23{77--11 8~