Commission holds firm on application process

If you’re going to apply for one of two forthcoming City Commission vacancies, you’re going to do it in person.

On Tuesday, the City Commission held a special meeting to consider whether to allow applicants for two vacancies on the board to submit their paperwork electronically. The ordinance originally passed by the commission requires interested parties to file their application in person at the City Auditor and Clerk’s office.

Charles Senf, a city resident interested in submitting an application, called that requirement into question. He asked whether the stipulation would arbitrarily deny people out of town the right to be considered for the openings, which will be opened up when the resignations of Paul Caragiulo and Shannon Snyder go into effect this November.

The commission was split on the question of allowing people to submit their applications if they didn’t appear at City Hall in person. Ultimately, the board voted 3-2 to maintain the in-person requirement.

Vice Mayor Susan Chapman, who voted with Mayor Willie Shaw to remove the requirement, said that the commission never gave any policy direction regarding the submission of the application. She said the in-person requirement was outdated, and that the city should modernize the process.

“The modern standard is not to submit documents in person,” Chapman said. “It's to submit them by email and get a receipt.”

Snyder referred to a discussion topic at the Sept. 2 commission meeting as evidence that the public opposed any sudden changes to the vetted application process, and said commissioners had ample time to review the ordinance. At the earlier meeting meeting, Caragiulo asked the rest of the board about possibly appointing Snyder to finish the rest of his term.

“We had a clearly established process,” Snyder said. “While people may want to change the process, we sat here last week and listened to the public repeatedly talk about the process and how it shouldn't be changed.”

Although she agreed that there was a need to better embrace technology, Commissioner Suzanne Atwell also agreed that modifications to the application process would be improper.

“I think when we change the rules in midstream three days out, I have some concern,” Atwell said. “We do have a procedure. I understand (the desire to change the process), but I often wonder: Are there other people out there that said we're not going to go on holiday because it meant more to turn in this application?”

Those interested in applying to fill one of the two commission vacancies have until noon on Friday, Sept. 12. The application forms can be found on the city website, or in person at the City Auditor and Clerk’s office.

Contact David Conway at [email protected]