Travis County Commissioners Court
December 11, 2007
Item 32
Our da wants to provide input on this item too, 32, consider and take appropriate action on process and schedule for interviews of applicants for executive manager, justice and public safety.
>> yes.
>> let call it. Here is our current situation. Last week the court voted to try to do the interviews on December 17. We have since learned that one of our three short-listed applicants is unavailable.
>> . And she says she is available on the 19th, 20th, and days there after. Another applicant, though, is not available on the 19th. So looks like two of the three are available on the 17th and the other available on the 19th. I indicated to the court that in my view, two things. A recommendation, in addition to trying to get the groups to meet with applicants, of getting two or three individuals to ask questions while we kind of sit and take the answers. I think there is some value in us trying do these interviews and make this decision this year. So we will put in place a selected individual next year, and this position has been vacant for more than two years. We have gotten input from stakeholders, including yourself county attorney, deborah hale for the judges, criminal judges, dr. Nagi for cscd, jim sill invest -- sylvester, and a couple executive managers. My suggestion is to do the interviews on the 1th and a couple on the 19--17th and a couple on the 19th and then make a decision. If we do that that eliminates the meeting with those groups as well as getting somebody in to ask questions for us. The reasonable for those questions, I thick, is we redid the job description and focused on quattle and skills that really can include criminal justice but also involve a lot of other stuffs, consensus building, team player, demonstrated ability to collaborate, good communication skills, ability to manage subordinates, develop short and long range comprehensive plans, et cetera. So after thinking about this over the weekend, my thinking was the greatest benefit we can get right now is on landing on a person or deciding, we don't like any of these three, which is what we did last time. I think any of these three will do a good job for us. They were at super qualified and I think will do a good job here for us. This memo, by the way, I put together yesterday and gave to the court. My thinking is we ought to go ahead and try to interview two of them on the 17th, the other one on the 19th.
>> that will work.
>> whoever we select, then we basically introduce that person to anybody that wants to meet him or her.
>> we originally talked about trying to replicate insofar as we could the process that was used to select a new chief of the Austin police department, with various groups at various tables and various, I think you were there. You might remember what I知 talking about.
>> right.
>> and it looks like that is going to be not feasible because of the schedules of the various applicants. So, are you, is the recommendation that you are acting that the court as a whole conduct these interviews?
>> yes, sir.
>> with any input, well, you have already had the input of the other stakeholders like myself and county attorney and the sheriff and others.
>> I left out chief mcdonald. Michael macdonald was actively involved in the process.
>> yeah, he was.
>> along with two e members of the court, Commissioner Gomez and myself. I think we have input from some of the stakeholders. So I知 not underestimating the importance of getting community input. But in view of the total circumstances, I think that us making a and selection and trying to make the exposure is the best we can do.
>> so five of you conducting the interviews with two one day and the other the other day right before christmas, any extra points given to san tan outfits? That will be going --tough goin.
>> our problem is we really have light days. The only other serious Tuesday setting is December 18. We told the managers, one come just before christmas, the other just after new year's. So our opportunity to prepare is limited and we're trying to avoid heaviy controversial stuff during that two-week period basically.
>> that will be the first time that has ever happened, heaviy controversial stuff.
>> I said trying to.
>> avoided for any two-week period.
>> right.
>> what about, let's give you this thought. You all conduct the basic interviews. I haven't even met all these people. I may have met some in the past, but I wouldn't be able to pick them out from a crowd. Is it possible for some of the groups, the planning group of which the two of you are part, so at least meet them while they are here or anybody who wants to during a before or after the interview process that you all are going to conduct?
>> do we have a time certain for them yet sm--yet?
>> not bet but both are local. The third one is coming from out of town. She said the 19th is a good date. We just need to coordinate the time. Monday and Wednesday is what we are looking atthey.
>> they would both be afternoon, judge?
>> that would be my recommendation. Monday morning is often not quite totally controlled. So afternoon would be better for me. I can do it in the morning if we need to. I had in mind Monday afternoon and getting with the third party probably Wednesday afternoon is better unless she is flying in Tuesday night in which case we could do it late morning if she would like to. If we are flexible on that I think we ought to go ahead and get them done by Wednesday, give ourselves an opportunity to discuss them on Wednesday. If we need to check out references, et cetera, we'll have a couple days to do that. But as a, I知 had thinking that we can achieve consensus on one of them. All three of them really are super qualified, I believe.
>> would it be advantageous to, depending on what their schedules are, the fly-in schedule and what not, to schedule a luncheon on Monday and Wednesday for anyone who wants to come and spend some time with them?
>> that's kind of what I really didn't want to put into words, but the kind of thing I would like to do. And just to have a controlled crowd so we don't have a huge gathering. The people on the planning committee, I don't know what we call that, justice and public safety selection committee or something like that. If the invitatoin just went to that group. So we would be able to look in the eye the people whose resume's we have been reading. You all get to meet final call--make the final call.
>> Monday or Wednesday.
>> that's fine. I eat those days when I can.
>> I don't know that I知 going to want to like them enough to interview them plus have lunch. I certainly wouldn't mind.
>> anybody that wanted to show up could, I expect.
>> should we tell the interested people that you will pick up the tab for lunch?
>> well, now you are getting personal, judge. I値l be happy to take up a collection.
>> those are my thoughts. Really, last Tuesday we assumed that the 17th would be okay for the three. But I can understand the one that is in another part up there in the washington, d.c. Area really had other commitments, actually at the capitol on the 17th.
>> homeland security commitment, as I understand it.
>> right.
>> she was just bragging.
>> homeland security.
>> I mean, that is how I see it.
>> justice department.
>> where do we do a luncheon if we have one here? In one of our conference rooms?
>> we could look at, there are a number of places close by where we could go.
>> I thought it might nice.
>> it would if a we could find a place to accommodate.
>> three members of the court plan to participate, it would have to the be posted.
>> I don't need to have lunch. Just do the interviewing.
>> okay.
>> I知 not precluding anybody else on wanting to do that , though. At that time your business.
>> should we move in that direction? Invite they will to meet with the committee?
>> I think you would be, provide the opportunity, I think, is all I知 saying. If they want to the and if anybody on the committee wants to, the opportunity is availabl.
>> right.
>> and maybe a sandwich seminar in the conference room across the hall. I知 not talking about anything headliners clubby.
>> say either a luncheon or coffee depending on the travel schedule of the candidates.
>> precisely. That's great.
>> morning would be better for me, judge, on Monday. But again, I will yield to whatever everybody else would like. If we get started early in the afternoon on Monday as far as starting the interviewing--
>> I had in mind 1:30 and 2:30.
>> okay. Concluding by when?
>> I知 thinking an hour with each would be sufficient.
>> I can live with that. Add just my schedule accordingl.
>> okay. And Commissioner Daugherty, make sure he is available. On Wednesday we kind of need to touch base with that applicant and try to get a convenient time. I知 sure we will be able to arrive at one either late morning or early afternoon and we'll try to work out that lunch also.
>> if it works.
>> okay.
>> thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> then I move Biscoe proposal.
>> second.
>> anymore discussion? All in favor. Hotethote. That passes by unanimous vote. That base is to interview two on Monday, 1:30 and 2:30, try to schedule the other, and these will have to be posted and we'll get them posted as soon as possible. That passed by unanimous vote, didn't it? Okay. Thank you.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 18:30 AM