2025-01-08 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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RELEVANT LINKS: LMC information memo, Data Practices: Analyze, Classify Respond, Section VIII-A-I-c, Applicants for employment. LMC information memo, Meetings of City Councils, Section II-G-2, Interviews. Minn. Stat. § 13.43 subd. 3 The council will then meet to discuss their ratings of the semi-finalists and attempts to reach agreement on typically three to six finalists to be interviewed. As a prelude to this discussion, the consultant or designated staff member may compile the councilmembers individual ratings into some type of integrated report that helps council more quickly see where there is agreement as to the top candidates. At this point in the process, the city must begin to balance the somewhat conflicting demands of the Minnesota Data Practices and Open Meeting Law statutes. The council discussion to select finalists for interviews must be done in a public meeting, but the identity of applicants is private data. While the council can discuss private data at an open meeting when there is a business necessity, consider avoiding it altogether by having the council refer to specific candidates with something like "Candidate Number 4" or "Candidate D," rather than by name. private! Avoid using job titles or specific work experience that would identify the candidate as well. While the law does allow the council to discuss private data at an open meeting, the city will want to consider the potential for losing candidates who do not want to be identified until they officially reach the finalist phase of the process. Once candidates are chosen for an interview, they are considered "finalists" and the names of finalists are public data. Therefore, a highly recommended last step is to have the consultant, or designated staff member contact the finalists to advise them that they are going to be invited to interview and their identity is now public. This gives the applicant an opportunity to notify his or her current employer of their application before it comes out in the newspaper. B. Interview process In order to realistically compare candidates, it is best to complete all interviews in a relatively compressed timeframe, often over a one- or two- day period. Some cities choose to keep the candidates separated from one another, while others opt for a group event, including tours, receptions, and a group dinner with the council. As noted above, the identity of all finalists is public information at this point, and most candidates will understand that they are only one of several individuals being evaluated and considered. It is a nice idea to give all of the candidates a tour of the community, and perhaps even an opportunity to meet department heads, either one-on-one, or as a group. The candidates are evaluating you and your community at the same time you're evaluating them, so it is important to be open and provide a setting for them to ask questions and get honest answers. No one benefits by unpleasant surprises later. League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 3/7/2022 Hiring a City Manager or Administrator Toolkit Page 7