Minutes of the Special Committee Meeting of
The San Francisco Ethics Commission
September 25, 2015
Room 034 City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
I. Call to order and roll call.
Chairperson Renne called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Renne, Chairperson; Brett Andrews, Vice-Chairperson.
STAFF PRESENT: Catherine Argumedo, Investigator/Legal Analyst.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY: Andrew Shen, Deputy City Attorney (DCA).
OTHERS PRESENT: Brent Lewis, Department of Human Resources; Sherrill Uyeda, Alliance Resource Consulting LLC; Bob Planthold; Larry Bush; Sharyn Suslafsky; Elena Schmid; Eileen Hansen; and other unidentified members of the public.
II. Discussion and possible action on the Special Committee’s May 19 and September 4, 2015 draft meeting minutes.
No discussion or public comment.
Motion 150925-01 (Andrews/Renne): Moved, seconded, and passed (2-0) to adopt the minutes, as written.
III. Discussion and possible action regarding the Commission’s appointment of a new Executive Director, including the review of applications received and the related development of interview questions for applicants.
Chairperson Renne stated that a total of 31 applications were received by the September 11, 2015 deadline and that he was pleased at the quality of responses. He stated that he anticipated that they would, during closed session, review eleven candidates and see if they want to narrow down the number for initial interviews. He stated the first round of interviews would be via Skype and there would be no face-to-face interviews, regardless if a candidate were local. He stated that there were candidates from Massachusetts and Wisconsin and that he would like to schedule interviews within the next couple weeks. He stated that he would like to have the final few candidates for the full Commission during its regular October meeting, but that it would be more realistic that the interviews would occur during the November meeting or an earlier special meeting. He and Commissioner Andrews stated that it would be preferable to have an attorney as a candidate, but that it was not a requirement for the position.
Larry Bush and Bob Planthold suggested that the Commissioners ask the candidates about making a more robust Interested Persons list and reiterated that the Commission should have a Commission Secretary. Eileen Hansen stated that the Commissioners should ask candidates about how they would deal with staff, who may have different opinions with the incoming Director. She also offered to be a part of the selection process as a committee member. Chairperson Renne stated that it may be a good idea, but that the Committee is not empowered to make that decision. Ms. Hansen asked if he would raise it at the next full Commission meeting on Monday. DCA Shen stated that the way the agenda item was worded would permit the discussion.
Motion 150925-02 (Andrews/Renne): Moved, seconded, and passed (2-0) for the Commission to move into closed session in order to review applications received.
All members of the public and staff left the meeting room. The Committee moved into closed session at 11:16 AM. Chairperson Renne, Vice-Chairperson Andrews, Brent Lewis, Sherrill Uyeda, and DCA Shen remained in the meeting room. The Committee came out of closed session at 12:08.
Motion 150925-03 (Andrews/Renne): Moved, seconded, and passed (2-0) that the Committee not disclose its closed session deliberations re: review of applications received.
IV. Adjournment.
The meeting adjourned at 12:11 P.M.