Approved by the Board: July 24, 2007
LANSING BOARD OF WATER AND LIGHT
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Friday, June 15, 2007
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The Board of Commissioners met in the Boardroom of the Administrative Offices, 1232 Haco Drive, Lansing, Michigan.
Present: Commissioners Gary Calkins, Robert Cochran, Joseph Graves, Semone James, Santiago Rios, Julee Rodocker, Robin Smith and Sandra Zerkle.
Absent: None
The Secretary declared a quorum present.
Chairperson Smith asked all to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Chairperson Smith called the meeting to order at 9:13 a.m.
THE CHAIR ANNOUNCED THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD ON ANY AGENDA SUBJECT AND ANYONE WISHING TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER NOT ON THE AGENDA MAY DO SO IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT.
There were no public comments.
Sandra Soltysiak, Executive Search Consultant with Varnum Consulting gave direction and clarity to the Board of Commissioners regarding the General Manager finalists’ credentials and interview questions. After said discussion, the Board proceeded with the selection process and interviewed four (4) candidate finalists for the position of General Manager. The candidate finalists were as follows: Gregory Boettcher, Carroll French, Lawrence Schuster, and J. Peter Lark. Two candidates were interviewed in the morning and two in the afternoon. Each candidate finalists requested consideration of their application for appointment to be considered in confidence. Upon conclusion of the interviews, the Board entered into executive session to consider the candidate finalist’s application for appointment per the finalist’s request.
Moved by Commissioner Calkins, seconded by Commissioner Cochran, to go into closed session to consider the candidate finalists’ application for appointment per the request of each candidate finalist. The meeting is protection by the Open Meetings Act exemption MCL 15.268(f). (2:54 p.m.) The roll was called.
Yeas: Commissioners Calkins, Cochran, Graves, James, Rios, Rodocker, Smith and Zerkle.
Nays: None
Absent: None
Carried unanimously.
Moved by Commissioner Rios, seconded by Commissioner Cochran, that the Special Board meeting return to open session.
Carried unanimously.
The Special Board meeting reconvened in open session at 3:40 p.m.
Commissioner Rios reported that all of the candidate finalists requested closed session to consider their candidacy for the General Manager position.
The Board of Commissioners took the following action after the conclusion of executive session.
On motion by Commissioner Rios, seconded by Commissioner Cochran, the Board of Commissioners agreed to extend an offer of employment for the General Manager position to J. Peter Lark.
Action: Carried unanimously.
Commissioner Rios assumed the role of Acting Chair, as Commissioner Smith momentarily stepped out of the meeting.
On motion by Commissioner Cochran, seconded by Commissioner Graves, that the Board of Commissioners, Executive Committee be empowered to negotiate a contract with J. Peter Lark.
Action: Carried unanimously.
None.
Commissioner Graves complimented the entire Board for the time and effort put into the General Manager search process. He noted that he was pleased that they had reached a consensus. The remaining Commissioners shared the same sentiment together with Commissioner Calkins expressed pleasure with the quality of the candidate finalists.
Commissioner James asked to be excused from the June 19th Committee of the Whole meeting due to a prior obligation.
Commissioner Smith returned to the boardroom and advised that J. Peter Lark accepted the conditional offer of employment pending negotiation of an employment contract with the Executive Committee.
None.
None.
On motion by Commissioner Calkins, seconded by Commissioner Cochran, the meeting adjourned at 3:51 p.m.
/s/ Rhonda Jones, Corporate Secretary
Filed with Lansing City Clerk
June 22, 2007