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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-14 RMLD General Manager Committee MinutesReading Municipal Light Department General Manager Search Committee General Manager's Conference Room 230 Ash Street, Reading, MA 01867 January 14, 2003 Start Time of Regular Session: 10:00 a.m. End Time of Regular Session: 11:15 a.m. Attendees: William J. Hughes, Jr. - Chairman, RMLD Board of Commissioners Elizabeth Klepeis - Treasurer, Town of Reading Arthur Carakatsane - Citizen's Advisory Board Member from Lynnfield Bill Wallace - General Manager, Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Beth-Ellen Antonio - Human Resources Manager, RMLD Phil Pacino, Secretary, RMLD Board of Commissioners Fred Nemergut - Former RMLD Commissioner - Ratepayer Priscilla Gottwald, Community Relations Manager Meeting called to Order Mr. Hughes called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. . - , i_J ! > ~n-ni C Minutes January 9, 2003 Mr. Wallace moved to accept the minutes of January 9th, Mr. Pacino seconded the motion. Motion was approved with a show of hands 7:0:0. Mr. Hughes noted this is the last meeting of the General Manager's Search Committee and thanked all the members for their participation and dedication. Executive Session At 10:15 a.m., Mr. Carakatsane made a motion seconded by Mr. Nemergut to enter into Executive Session to discuss the candidates being referred to the RMLD Board of Commissioners for consideration of the General Manager position and to return to the Regular Session to discuss interview strategy suggestions for the RMLD Board of Commissioners. Motion carried by a show of hands, 7:0:0. Mr. Hughes called for a poll of the vote: Mr. Hughes, Aye; Ms. Klepeis, Aye; Ms. Antonio, Aye; Mr. Wallace, Aye and Mr. Carakatsane, Aye; Mr. Pacino, Aye; Mr. Nemergut, Aye. Regular Session At 10:40 a.m., Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Ms. Klepeis to return to the regular session to discuss interview strategy suggestions for the RMLD Board of Commissioners. Motion carried by a show of hands, 7:0:0. Mr. Hughes called for a poll of the vote: Mr. -Hughes, Aye; Ms. Klepeis, Aye; Ms. Antonio, Aye; Mr. Wallace, Aye and Mr. Carakatsane, Aye; Mr. Pacino, Aye; Mr. Nemergut, Aye. Regular Session Minutes Page Two January 14, 2003 Mr. Carakatsane distributed a list of evaluation criteria as an aide for the RMLD Board of Commissioners to use in their selection process. This list was created from the same criteria the Committee used during their interviewing process. Ms. Klepeis suggested the interviews be very structured since they are public and televised. Ms. Klepeis also suggested summarizing a list of questions for the Board similar to those used during the Committee interviews. Mr. Carakatsane suggested the Citizen's Advisory Board involvement, possibly scheduling a member of the CAB to have dinner with the candidates. Ms. Klepeis stated Mr. Van Magness would be a good choice for that role considering his well rounded knowledge of the Town, etc. Mr. Carakatsane stated a tour of the facility and substations in addition to lunch may be too much for one day and suggested omitting dinner and letting the candidate go back to the hotel prior to the interview to regroup. The Committee agreed with this suggestion and decided lunch upon lunch with a CAB member rather than dinner. The discussion then focused on what part of the interview would be public and what must be done in Executive Session. It was decided the interviews would all be public and the only private part of this process would be when a candidate is actually selected, their contract would be negotiated in Executive Session. The Committee all agreed it would be good practice for the candidates to meet with the Town Manager and at least one of the Selectmen as well the day of the interview. Ms. Klepeis stated meeting with the Town Manager presents a good image to the candidate and is good for the candidate when making his decision as well. Ms. Gottwald, Community Relations Manager, asked how can she let the public know about this process and asked who she should name as a contact person in the Press Releaser The Committee agreed Mr. Hughes as Chairman of the GM Search Committee and the RMLD Board of Commissioners should be the contact for any questions since after this meeting the Committee is ultimately disbanded. Ms. Klepeis stated the interviews could get out of hand very quickly if a lot of people including the press starting asking questions and suggested any questions the public has should be presented to Mr. Hughes for the Board to make such inquires. Regular Session Minutes Page Three January 14, 2003 The Committee decided the candidates will be offered a hotel for either the night prior to the interview or the night of the interview (depending on their preference). The candidates' schedule will include a tour of the facilities, lunch with a CAB member (John Norton/Fred Van Magness), a "meet and greet" with the Town Manager and another Town Official (possibly the Chair of the Selectmen), and the actual interview with the Board at either 6:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. that evening. Each Committee member will e-mail Ms. Antonio the particular questions they asked during the interviews and Ms. Antonio will combine all the questions for the Board to discuss and consider their own questioning strategy. Mr. Pacino stated his view of the method for voting includes the interviews of all four candidates, then a separate session for the Board to discuss the candidates, vote on a finalist and make a motion. Mr. Wallace suggested the interviews be scheduled in alphabetic order, if possible. If that is not possible, the Committee decide to schedule via candidate availability. Ms. Antonio will poll the Board for their availability for the last week in January for interviews. Ms. Antonio will also send a letter to all the candidates not selected as finalist. The Committee decided for Public Relations purposes the names and location of employment of the candidates can now be released. Motion to Adjourn At 11:15 a.m., Mr. Carakatsane made a motion seconded by Mr. Wallace to adjourn the Regular Session. Motion carried by a show of hands: 7:0:0. Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Mr. Wallace that the General Manager's Search Committee recommend the final four candidates for the General Manager's position, Gary Babin, Vin Cameron, Charles Farrington and George Leary to the RMLD Board of Commissioners for interview and consideration. Motion carried 7:0:0 unanimously. Ms. Gottwald, Community Relations Manager will forward a draft Press Release to Ms. Antonio for her approval of the final four candidates. Mr. Nemergut suggested Mr. Carakatsane make a presentation to the Commission with the recommendation by the GM Search Committee at their next meeting on January 23' Ms. Antonio will e-mail the Press Release to the Town Manager. Regular Session Minutes January 14, 2003 Page Four There was some discussion on whether to release the Executive Session minutes of this Committee since this is the last meeting of the Committee. Mr. Wallace stated until an issue comes to fruitition the Executive Session minutes cannot be released, therefore, the Executive minutes must wait until a General Manager is actually hired to be released. Ms. Klepeis made a motion seconded by Mr. Carakatsane that upon the hiring of a General Manager the Executive Session minutes of this Committee be released. Motion carried 7:0:0 unanimously. Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Mr. Carakatsane to approve the minutes of this January 14, 2003 meeting. Motion carried 7:0:0 unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.