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: Aug 03, 2015 Time: 5:00 PM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY AUDITOR 1. - CITY AUDITOR 1.1. 2015 / 481 - 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 Monday, August 3, 2015 at 5:00PM, the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the hiring of a new City Auditor for the City of Lowell. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND. Special Meeting of City Council Roll Call 8 present, 1 absent (C. Martin). M. Elliott presiding. Mayor Elliott opened meeting and read posted notice. C. Mercier recognized the accomplishments of Auditor Hannah York and the presence of Mary Callery from Human Resource Department. C. Mercier recommended that the Council follow the same procedure of last year when hiring the Auditor with perhaps adjustments to the length of time and duration of the ad for employment. Motion by C. Milinazzo, seconded by C. Mercier to accept the current job description to be used in advertising for the position. So voted. Ms. Callery reviewed the prior procedure for hiring the Auditor noting the different venues the City advertised in. Ms. Callery noted the prior ads ran for thirty days. C. Belanger questioned if thirty days was too long and instead maybe run ads for three weeks. C. Kennedy noted that thirty days would be preferable as it is vacation time and wish to get an increased City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 2) number of responses. C. Milinazzo commented that he would prefer thirty days noting that was the amount of time used during last hire. C. Leahy preferred the thirty day time frame as it was being done in August which is a vacation month. C. Samaras noted that thirty days is better suited during the summer. M. Elliott noted he would be fine with thirty days. C. Belanger noted he would be set with thirty days but commented that the process should be streamlined to fill position as quickly as possible. Motion by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Milinazzo to follow same procedure for hiring Auditor as was done in 2014, including the thirty day advertising period. So voted. C. Samaras raised the issue of hiring an interim auditor. M. Elliott noted that need and that is should be addressed. M. Elliott noted Assistant Auditor was placed in that position last time and he outlined some tasks that would need to be performed which could not be completed by the assistant and that help should be provided to the office if needed. C. Samaras noted assistance should be given to office if needed. Motion by C. Kennedy, seconded C. Leahy to refer issue of naming an interim auditor to Law Department for report and recommendation. So voted. Ms. Callery noted that thirty days would begin once the ad is placed and that she would inform the Council of progress. C. Rourke noted that the body meets next at regular meeting on September 8th and that there should be further discussion on how to proceed. C. Mercier noted that there should be some time after the ad closes and when you submit your application to give all a fair chance. Motion by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Mercier to allow applications to be filed no later than September 8, 2015 at 5PM. Adopted on Roll Call Vote 8 yeas, 1 absent (C. Martin). So voted. C. Milinazzo raised the issue of salary. Ms. Callery noted how the salary was posted last time. C. Kennedy recommended that the salary be posted as it was last time which included the current salary that could be negotiable. ADJOURNMENT 2. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion by C. Kennedy, seconded by C. Rourke “to adjourn.” So voted. Adjourned at 5:30 PM. Michael Q. Geary City Clerk. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov