CC Minutes - 10/13/08 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Clark offered a friendly amendment to add the following language to the motion: “Pending approval by the City Council of the embedded job description on October 20.” Councilor Bettman declined the friendly amendment. Councilor Clark stressed that he wished to ensure that the council was not acting precipitously. Mayor Piercy ascertained from City Attorney Jerry Lidz that the motion would simply approve the brochure with a placeholder for the job description. Councilor Poling indicated he would not support the motion, but not because of the position or the ordinance. He could not support it given that the minimum qualifications had been altered to require a juris doctorate. He believed this would limit the number of qualified applicants for the position. Councilor Zelenka supported the motion. He reiterated his support for the requirement of a law degree. He added his feeling that the NACOLE conference would provide a rich recruitment environment. He thought the City had hired a good recruiter. He ascertained from Ms. Holmes that it was staff’s belief that six weeks was the appropriate window for recruitment. Councilor Zelenka asked if making the window longer would make any difference. Ms. Holmes replied that six weeks was adequate, though the requirement that applicants have a juris doctorate would take more of a recruitment effort. Councilor Clark said he would support extending the recruitment as he wanted to make sure there was adequate time for the process. He reiterated his concern for the requirement for a law degree. He believed it was a mistake for the council to limit itself unnecessarily as the councilors had the discretion when reviewing candidates to choose only those who had a juris doctorate. He thought to say they would not consider, nor look at any information from, nor take applications from, nor review any person’s other qualifications for, those who did not possess a law degree, was a mistake. For this reason, he indicated he would oppose the motion. Councilor Bettman reiterated her support for requiring a law degree. Ms. Holmes noted that the recruiter, Eric Middleton, also planned to attend the NACOLE conference. Roll call vote; the motion passed, 5:2; councilors Clark and Poling voting in opposition. Councilor Clark asked if staff could create a PDF version of the brochure that could easily be circulated. Ms. Holmes said staff could do so. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jon Ruiz City Manager MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 13, 2008 Page 9 Regular Meeting