City Council

Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov Lowell City Council Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Regular Meeting Minutes Date: Jan 14, 2014 Time: 5:30 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA MAYOR’S BUSINESS 1. - MAYOR'S BUSINESS 2. 2014 / 16 - Special Meeting Notice Notice is hereby given, as required by Rule 6 of the City of Lowell City Council Rules, that the Lowell City Council will hold a Special Meeting of the Lowell City Council in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 5:30 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to establish the process and procedure for the hiring/selection of the next City Manager for the City of Lowell. The second purpose of the meeting is to establish the process and procedure for the hiring/selection of the next City Auditor for the City of Lowell. Special Meeting of City Council Roll Call 9 present. M. Elliott presiding. Mayor Elliott opened meeting and read posted notice. C. Mercier commented on obligation to hire and the prior procedures used and that she would not be in favor of using a committee to assist in the hiring. C. Leahy questioned the prior procedure used. Mary Callery (Human Resources) distributed information to the Council. M. Elliott noted he had prepared a tentative time frame to be used as a guide. C. Belanger noted time requirements and commented on salary range. C. Mercier noted the salary range should go from 165 to 180 thousand per year. C. Martin noted there should be information provided to see range of similar communities. C. Kennedy City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 3) commented the need to know the range of other communities and noted any ad should indicate salary is negotiable. C. Leahy noted the need to know range to get the best candidates. C. Milinazzo commented that there may be a need to update the job description to attract best candidates. C. Samaras noted the range would assist in getting the best candidate. C. Rourke commented that the last salary in Worcester was 189 thousand. C. Martin commented the top priority should be the right manager and that salary should not interfere with that priority. C. Leahy noted need for more information and meeting to continue next week. Motion by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Rourke “to note in ad that salary would be negotiable and state current salary of the position.” So voted. Motion by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Samaras “to review job description and support changes using the City of Worcester description as a guide for same.” So voted. C. Kennedy noted that there should be a notation regarding contract for new city manager in the ad so that it is straight forward. Motion by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Belanger “to have ad indicate that the manager would serve at the will of the Council and would not receive a contract.” Failed on Roll Call vote, 4 yeas, 5 nays (C. Leahy, C. Martin, C. Mercier, C. Milinazzo, C. Samaras). So voted. C. Martin commented that an ad set up in that fashion would diminish the pool of applicants. C. Mercier concern was that it would diminish quality of applicants. C. Samaras noted contracts are part of job descriptions and they produce the best candidates. C. Kennedy noted ad could be silent on contract if motion fails. C. Rourke noted it should be upfront in job description. C. Milinazzo noted a contract is warranted but it could be silent in ad. C. Belanger commented there is no leverage with a contract. C. Leahy noted a contract should not be eliminated by the ad. C. Mercier noted that the Town of Dracut manager had no contract for his service. C. Samaras noted that a contract enables an individual to perform at his or her best. C. Rourke noted the Auditor leaving early is an indication that contracts do not benefit the City. Motion by C. Mercier, seconded by C. Belanger “to place ad in publications as done with prior search.” Substitute Motion by C. Martin, seconded by C. Kennedy “to eliminated Springfield paper and include Worcester paper.” So voted. Motion by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Kennedy “to include ad in trade magazines for managers.” So voted. C. Martin commented that online ads would be needed as well. Mary Callery noted the online ads used as part of printed media. Mayor Elliott commented on time elements for ad s and submissions of applications. Ms. Callery noted ads can be place quickly. C. Mercier commented on time to run ads. C. Kennedy noted ads should run at least a month. Motion by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Belanger “to set a February 28, 2014 as deadline for submission of applications.” So voted. C. Mercier and C. Samaras commented on public participation. C. Kennedy recommends meeting next week at 5 pm and to start with Auditor first. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 3) ADJOURNMENT 3. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Rourke “to adjourn.” So voted. Adjourned at 6:30 PM. Michael Q. Geary City Clerk. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov