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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1999.12.15BI]RLINGAME CALIFORNIA December L5,1999 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Rosalie O'Mahony called a special meeting of the Burlingame City Council to order at 5:00 p.m. in Conference Room A of City Hall on the above date. The purpose of the meeting was to interview the city clerk applicants. ROLL CALL COUNCIL PRESENT: COUNCIL ABSENT: COFFEY, GALLIGAN, JANNEY, O'MAHONY, SPINELLI NONE PUBLIC COMMENTS Jerry Deal, 1228Paloma, was surprised at the proposal to split the city clerk position into two jobs; think citizens are not aware of this proposal; concern there may be a political payoff involved in an appointment. Katie O'Brien, 2204Poppy, said she was also surprised to see the proposal to split the position; when people voted they perceived this as one position, changing it is deceiving the voters; concerned that one of the candidates was a campaign manager for a council member, think that council member should abstain from any vote. Cathy Baylock,1527 Newlands, echoed the comments; showed a copy of a council member's ballot statement which she believed was not edited fairly by the clerk. Karen Key responded she felt many of these comments are directed toward her; noted that she has had relationships with all the council members and knows them all well; she wants to be considered for her qualifications. INTERVIEW OF CITY CLERK APPLICANTS Mayor O'Mahony announced that council would first interview the four candidates and asked the City Manager to review the process. City Manager explained over 20 years ago there was an elected City Clerk with two part time deputies, then the two part time positions were combined into one position and that was when Judy Malfatti came to work for the city as full time Deputy City Clerk under an elected part time City Clerk. When City Clerk Evelyn Hill retired, the Deputy agreed to take the elected position also and the positions were combined. After some discussion about the procedure, council invited all the candidates, Karen Key, Doris Mortensen, Vi Weber and Ann Musso, to join them at the table. First council questioned them on which position they were interested in: Key was interested in the elected position only; Mortensen was interested in either the combined or the deputy position; Weber was interested in the deputy position only because she lives outside the city; and Musso was interested in the combined or deputy position. Council members then took turns asking other questions with each candidate taking a tum to be the first to answer a different question. After the questions, the candidates resumed their seats in the audience. 55 SEPARATE CITY CLERK AND DEPUTY CITY CLERK INTO TWO POSITIONS Mayor O'Mahony said council must discuss the issue of keeping the position combined or splitting it. Vice Mayor Galligan said he would like to go into closed session. Mayor O'Mahony thought council should first discuss whether to separate or keep the position combined. Jirn Mclaughlin, former City Clerk of Belmont, asked to comment. The mayor said the public comments period is closed and he could not speak. Councilman Coffey said he would like to hear the gentleman speak and City Attorney noted it may not be fair to the candidates to take public comments at this time following the interview questions. Councilman Coffey thought it is difficult enough with four qualified candidates, but to have to make a choice on combined or separate positions makes it that much more difficult. Councilwoman Janney said she could go either way on the issue. Councilman Spinelli thought the combined position was the way to go, should only be one person. Mayor O'Mahony agreed. Vice Mayor Galligan asked for a closed session to discuss Vi Weber whom he felt was very qualified but could not take the elected position; he noted the present city clerk lived outside the city when she took the deputy position and then moved to Burlingame to take the elected position; Weber could have that option. However, as a current employee seeking only the appointed position, Vi Weber's privacy should be protected. CLOSED SESSION At 6:15 p.m. council went into closed session to discuss the qualifications of candidate Vi Weber Council reconvened in open session at 6:28 p.m. with all members present. City Attorney announced that council discussed the qualifications of Vi Weber in closed session. ADJOURNMENT Mayor O'Mahony announced that council needs more time and would delay a decision until the January meeting. She adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Judith A. Malfatti City Clerk 56