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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2021.11.09 - 39416 Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting November 9, 2021 Chairman McGillivray called the special Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 2:13 p.m. in the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Waterford Oaks Activity Center. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Gary R. McGillivray, Vice Chairman J. David VanderVeen, Secretary Ebony Bagley, Executive Committee Member Christine Long, Yolanda Charles, Jim Nash, Nancy Quarles, Lance Stokes (8) COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT : Andrea LaFontaine (1) ALSO PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Susan M. Wells, Interim Executive Officer Phil Castonia, Chief–Business Operations Mike Donnellon, Chief-Facilities Maintenance & Development Melissa Prowse, Supervisor of Planning Brandy Sotke-Boyd, Chief of Recreation Programs and Services OC Fiscal Services/P & R Jeff Phelps, Fiscal Services Coordinator OC Executive Office Christopher Ward, Deputy County Executive GovHR USA Jaymes Vettraino, Vice President APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Moved by Ms. Charles, supported by Mrs. Long to approve the agenda as submitted. AYES: Bagley, Charles, Long, McGillivray, Nash, Quarles, Stokes, VanderVeen (8) NAYS: (0) Motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no comments from the public. Parks and Recreation Director Interview Consultant Jaymes Vettraino, Vice President of GovHR USA, provided a review to the Commission of the application process for the position of Oakland County Parks and Recreation Director, and then explained the process for interviewing the applicant. Mr. Vettraino then introduced the applicant, Mr. Christopher Ward. Mr. Ward is currently employed at Oakland County as Deputy County Executive. He has worked for the County for 11 years in several different capacities including Chief of Staff/Administrative Director, Board of Commissioners; Senior Policy Analyst, Board of Commissioners; and Deputy County Clerk/Register of Deeds. Mr. Ward also served as Michigan State Representative of the 66th District from 2003-2008 and was the Township Clerk for the Charter Township of Brighton from 1998-2002. OCPR Special Commission Meeting November 9, 2021 Page 2 After the Commission members had the opportunity to ask Mr. Ward questions, Mr. Ward was provided the opportunity to make a closing statement. He thanked the Commissioners for their time and for the opportunity to be interviewed for the position of Oakland County Parks and Recreation Director and is looking forward to the opportunity to serve the citizens of Oakland County with the tremendous Parks and Recreation team. Chairman McGillivray advised he received two emails regarding the interview process and asked that they be read into the record. The first email was from OCPR Commissioner Andrea LaFontaine who was not able to attend the meeting: Dear Fellow Parks Commissioners: Unfortunately, due to a schedule conflict, I am unable to attend today’s interview. Please accept this e-mail as my input on today’s interview with candidate 7. I want to be clear with my concerns expressed at our last meeting. I have zero concern with Candidate 7’s qualifications and experience. This candidate was in the top three I selected from the list. My concern is regarding the process. After the first incident with the previous candidate, I understand the desire to ensure that we are diligent in our selection – which is likely why the internal candidate that has familiarity, and support amongst County Commissioners is being solely advanced in this process. I’d like to point out that the support for advancing candidate 7 came from parks commissioners directly serving the County in one capacity or another, as there was one absence, one vacancy, and two opposing votes of those that represent the resident voices. I also understand that the claim was made by multiple commissioners that “we don’t want to waste anyone’s time” which is bold to assume 1.) that the decision is already made, and 2.) that this parks commission is determining someone else’s time as “wasted” – as if speaking on behalf of the other candidates who were denied the opportunity of an interview. I am not naive to the politics of this scenario, I simply feel the need to speak up for those who were denied opportunity in this “process” and I can’t help but question how this decision aligns with the County’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I look forward to working with the next Executive Director, as I feel this is one of the most prestigious positions in parks and recreation throughout our state. Thank you for your consideration of my input, and I hope today’s interview is thorough and fair. The second email was from former OCPR Commissioner Amanda Herzog, PhD: Hi Gary: I want to express my extreme disappointment in the interview process for the OCPR Director. I am reaching out to you as a friend and a resident of Oakland County. However, I am in a unique position where I am hearing the concerns from both Commissioners and staff. Since Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a value of the County (with a dedicated Office), I would have thought it would have been a priority to interview a slate of diverse candidates. As a woman in STEM, I like to see females given at least the opportunity to compete for leadership roles. I have been vocal about this throughout the entire process. For me personally, I would be doing a disservice if I didn't champion fairness in that regard. As you know, recently, I have been in the job search process. I understand the time and effort it takes to be a competitive candidate (creating materials, research, preparing for interviews, etc.). When candidates find out that there was no interview process, you run the risk of the next search being less fruitful of talent. If the objective is to have a pool of serious candidates, then the process needs to be likewise, and it is important to be mindful and respectful of people's time. OCPR Commission should be mindful of the reputation that the lack of process is going to have on future searches. OCPR Special Commission Meeting November 9, 2021 Page 3 Even though the initial search was flawed, I learned so much more about the candidates through the interview process and the staff feedback. Since there was a process we followed, it was easier for me to defend our decision making when the news articles started to circulate around Royal Oak. It would have been much harder to defend a candidate that was appointed without an interview. In the initial search, I participated in 4 search committee meetings in addition to the Commission meetings. At my last meeting as a Commissioner, we discussed the initial search and how the Commission was going to move forward. I was hopeful that we had learned lessons from past mistakes and improved the selection process. If I was still on the Commission, I would be very cautious of participating in future activities. I am sure it's not the intention, but it would also give me the impression that I don't have the ability to choose a qualified candidate. I don't doubt his ability to do the job. Just that the lack of process perpetuates a culture that should be changed. This has weighed on me since the Commission meeting on Wednesday and I appreciate your time in me sharing my concern. There was discussion by the Commission on the hiring process to date, and a review by Mr. Vettraino of the next step in the process. Moved by Mrs. Long, supported by Ms. Quarles to appoint Christopher Ward as the new Oakland County Parks and Recreation Director. The following resolution will be presented to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for its consideration at the next Board of Commissioners’ meeting: WHEREAS the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission (“OCPRC”) Interim Executive Officer is retiring and a new OCPRC Executive Officer must be hired; and WHEREAS GovHR USA was engaged to conduct a search for candidates for the Executive Officer; and WHEREAS the OCPRC went into closed session at the November 2, 2021 OCPRC meeting to discuss and review applications for the Executive Officer; and WHEREAS MR#21315 requires that OCPRC recommend an Executive Officer candidate to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners must approve and confirm the candidate as the Executive Officer; and WHEREAS OCPRC recommends that candidate Chris Ward fill the OCPRC Executive Officer position; and WHEREAS the candidate is an existing Oakland County employee/appointee and therefore no additional background check is required. And NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission recommends that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approve and confirm the employment of Chris Ward to fill the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission Executive Officer position. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Parks and Recreation Commission recommends the creation of a new Appointed Non-Merit classification titled Director Parks and Recreation, FLSA exempt, at salary grade 334. OCPR Special Commission Meeting November 9, 2021 Page 4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Parks and Recreation Commission recommends that the reclassification of position number 5060101-03007 from Executive Officer Parks and Recreation to Director Parks and Recreation. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Parks and Recreati on Commission recommends deletion of the classification of Executive Officer Parks and Recreation. AYES: Bagley, Charles, Long, McGillivray, Nash, Quarles, Stokes, VanderVeen (8) NAYS: (0) Motion passed on a roll call vote. Chairman McGillivray advised the Commission that Interim Executive Officer Susan Wells will be retiring soon. Her previous position of Manager of Parks and Recreation Operations, which is an Oakland County Merit System employee, will soon be vacant. The Commission requested the new Parks and Recreation Director keep the Commission apprised of the status of the hiring and of the replacement of that position through the OCPR Commission Chairman. The Commission also requested the new Parks and Recreation Director to take the appropriate steps to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into the process of hiring the next Manager of Parks and Recreation Operations. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m. Ebony Bagley, Secretary Vicky Valko, Recording Secretary