CC Minutes - 05/23/05 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regarding Item D, Mayor Piercy provided an endorsement of Drew Johnson for the LRAPA Board. She interviewed seven candidates and reviewed their qualifications. While all of the candidates were good, she averred Mr. Johnson had the most background experience. She believed he deserved the support of the council. Councilor Poling pointed out that the recruitment period was only two weeks long, which he felt was too brief. He noted that LRAPA was interviewing a new director and the newly appointed board member would take part in the hiring process. He thought the appointment should wait until July, when the council conducted its recruitment for boards and commissions. He pointed out that the council received five to seven letters from LRAPA employees questioning Mr. Johnson's activities and indicating a lack of confidence in him. He did not have a substitute nominee and asked the Mayor and council to consider waiting to appoint. Councilor Ortiz understood that Mr. Johnson had been recruited by the community, which worked to be ;;the gatekeepers to keep air clean." She emphasized that Mr. Johnson was asked to serve. She felt a person should serve in whatever activity he or she felt passionate about. She questioned the letters submitted to the council, noting that they were from LRAPA staff. She wondered why they would have the power and privilege to make such comments. She supported the Mayor's nominee, stating that as a former employee of the agency, he had a lot of knowledge. She underscored that clean air was important for the entire community. Councilor Bettman observed that there was no shortage of applicants for the position. She thanked everyone for applying. She questioned the propriety of staff weighing in on the municipality's board nomination. She added that she had asked five years earlier for a work session on the concerns neighbors had regarding the air quality issues brought about by J.H. Baxter & Company and was told the City could do nothing about it. Councilor Taylor related that she has served on the LRAPA Board for eight years. She explained that there were three new board members and more were needed. She supported the nomination of Mr. Johnson, adding that she was glad that people asked him to apply. Councilor Pap6 conveyed his support for the Mayor's nomination. He noted, though, that he did not believe it had been long enough since Mr. Johnson worked for LRAPA. He observed that this would be another representative to LRAPA from Council Ward 2 and that there were qualified applicants from wards that were heretofore unrepresented on the LRAPA Board. Councilor Poling asserted that while the letters were from LRAPA employees, they were written as individuals. He respected the Mayor's choice, though he did not want to support it at this time. Councilor Kelly said the problem lay in part from not being able to see the applications and the council had this same issue with any mayoral appointments. In the future, he wished to see in council packets the applications of all applicants who made it to the interview stage. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 6:2; councilors Poling and Solomon voting in opposition. Mayor Piercy asked the councilors to consider Consent Calendar Item E. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 23, 2005 Page 8 Regular Session