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Conveying a report on the selection of a Recreation Director.
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Report on the selection of a Recreation Director
Personnel Director Roche is working with the interview panel, Skye Stewart, Omar Boukili and Stephanie Hirsch, on a process for the selection and hiring of a Recreation Director. The position was advertised from July 10, 2014 - August 10, 2014. Approximately 110 resumes have been received for the position of Recreation Director. Thirteen were from Somerville residents, three of whom already work for the City of Somerville. Resumes were also received from individuals from as far as LA, NY, FL and CO. In order to protect the privacy of the applicants, their names, addresses, etc. are not made public.
The process is for members of the interview panel to each select their top ten candidates, determine any overlap of candidates, and mutually select up to 8 candidates for first round interviews. It is expected that there will be three rounds of interviews, as follows: 6-8 candidates for round one, 3-5 candidates for round two, and 2-3 candidates for an interview with the Mayor.
Ms. Hirsch is working with the Recreation Task Force sub-teams (e.g. immigrant outreach, adult, youth, teens, arts, etc.) to have each group submit an interview question relating to their sub-team. Those questions will be integrated with the interview panel’s standard set of questions. A couple of members of the Recreation Task Force will sit in on round two - not as part of the interviewing panel - to assess how each of the candidates respond to the questions. The interview panel will then use their assessment sheets along with their personal notes and 2-3 candidates will be presented to the Mayor for an interview with him.
The Mayor will then submit a name to the Recreation Commission as his appointment for confirmation per Ordinance 2-247. The Committee on Youth Services will be kept apprised of the process as it progresses.
Mary Jo Rossetti, Chair
Committee on Youth Services
August 26, 2014