Executive_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 MEETING of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
3:30 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commission President P.J. Johnston called the meeting to order at 3:46 p.m.
- Roll Call
Commissioners Present
P.J. Johnston
Beverly Prior
Jeannene Przyblyski
Sherri Young
Commissioners Absent
Maya Draisin
Staff and Others Present
Commission Secretary Sharon Page Ritchie
Search Consultant Heather Renschler
- Update on Search for Director of Cultural Affairs
President Johnston began by announcing the appointment of Commissioner Young to replace Commissioner Lloyd on the Committee.
He reported that he and other members of the Committee had received a letter from staff requesting that senior staff be included in the interview process. He said that he believed they have been very much involved in the discussion through the retreat process. He described this hiring process as really intensive and more thorough than other City hiring process he has experienced. He hopes that the staff feels that their concerns have been incorporated into the hiring process.
The advice he received from both the Department of Human Resources (“DHR”) and the City Attorney’s office is that staff should not be included in the actual interview process, for a variety of reasons, including the fact that one of the candidates is their boss.
Commissioner Prior said that she had heard from some of the senior staff their concern that a minimum of five years’ experience is too little.
President Johnston said that the search has yielded some 136 applicants, including several very serious and significant candidates.
Commissioner Przyblyski asserted that the process was more than adequate, and that the time to question its adequacy was if and when the search failed. She said that the Committee had to consider the confidentiality due to the many applicants, and there was no way to know whether their current bosses should know they’ve applied for this position.
President Johnston said that he did not want staff to be unhappy with what the Committee is doing, and he believes the search has been very successful. He added that the staff has had enormous, perhaps unprecedented, input into the decision of who will be their next director.
Ms. Renschler pointed out that the “minimum qualifications,” as set by DHR, are just that—minimum. She explained that there are also “desired” qualifications which the Committee would consider in its deliberations.
Commissioner Young asked whether staff would meet—not interview—the top three candidates, as she has seen in other searches.
President Johnston said he would review this with the Mayor, but would be opposed to it. He reiterated the importance of confidentiality for the candidates.
Vice President Draisin thought such a brief meeting would give a false sense of effective input into the decision-making process.
Commissioner Przyblyski pointed out that once the field was narrowed to the top two or three candidates, it was as much a question of wooing as of interviewing.
Commissioner Przyblyski requested that President Johnston reply to the staff in writing.
- Public Employee Appointment/Hiring: Director of Cultural Affairs of the San Francisco Arts Commission
Closed Session to Consider Candidates for the Position of Director of Cultural Affairs
- Open Session: Public Comment on All Matters Pertaining to the Closed Session
There was no public comment.
- Vote on Whether to Hold Closed Session to Consider Candidates for the Position of Director of Cultural Affairs (San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b))
The Committee voted unanimously to hold closed session. The closed session included Commission President P.J. Johnston, Commissioners Beverly Prior, Jeannene Przyblyski and Sherri Young, and search consultant Heather Renschler of Ralph Andersen & Associates. The session was closed at 4:05 p.m.
- Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b)
Consideration of Candidates for the Position of Director of Cultural Affairs of the San Francisco Arts Commission, Classification 0961, Department Head I
- Reconvene in Open Session
The Committee reconvened in open session at 5:55 p.m.
- Possible Report on Action Taken in Closed Session (Government Code Section 54957 and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(b)(4))
The Committee made no report.
- Vote to Elect Whether to Disclose Any or All Discussions Held in Closed Session (San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a))
The Committee voted not to disclose any of its discussions.
President Johnston announced that the Committee would meet for candidate interviews on October 22 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on October 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Public Comment
There was no public comment.
- Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
spr 11/29/07
