10/31/05 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular meeting October 31, 2005 Novella Gatlin, 7419 Shaftesbury Ave Ms. Gatlin briefly compared the affect of oil price increase on all parts of the economy, which eventually increased more prices than just that of gasoline. Therefore there is a need to increase the fixed income that a pension provides for survival in the economy that is so heavily influenced with the price of oil. Richard Dockett, 6844 Crest Ave. Mr. Dockett handed out flyers as an invitation for all to attend the Annual Progress Report Meeting for the Northeast Neighborhood Plan. At this meeting there will be a progress report, proposed additional projects, and plan revisions. Ben Senturia, 7031 Waterman Councilmember’s request for more detailed transcription Mr. Senturia wanted to re-enforced the importance of having citizen’s input in the hiring of the new City Manager. University City is a unique community who prides themselves in the role the citizens have in our processes. The Council goes out of their way in the job description for City Manager to include, it is looking for a candidate who has sensitivity to involve the citizens. We have to act out that ethic in the way in which we operate, not just in the person we hire. There are two ways to do this One is the balance. Two are the big pieces. You are responsible for the hiring as you are the hiring committee. You have the responsibility to do the hiring but you also have an accountability back to us as citizens. That is the beautiful balance of University City. The challenge is how do you accomplish both as you do this job. You cannot go to either extreme as it would hurt us as a community. If we somehow insist upon getting involved in making the decisions, and if it is wrong, the Council makes that decision. At the same time, if you make decisions without involving citizens in the process, the people who have to be a part of this community and engaged for all of us to succeed, then I think you shut out the people you really need. He wanted to urge Council to ask themselves a question. How does this attempt leverage in the process? There are all sorts of ways of doing this. He actually does this for a living all around the country and as we advise public groups is to honor the hiring process to make the decision but to make sure the citizens are engaged. Bronwen Zwirner, 7031 Waterman Ms. Zwirner underscored the need to include U-City citizens in the process of the hiring of a new City Manager. We are looking for a style of being collaborative to start with anyway, so the process should also be collaborative. I am actually hired to all around the country. Robert Klepper, 6355 Washington When serving on the Parks Commission Mr. Klepper found it to be very open and transparent, with many citizens participating in discussions. With the hiring of this very important position of City Manager, it is important to be very transparent and open to Page 4