Board of Commissioners Meeting, January 10, 2009
Members Present: Dr. Frank Boehm, Dot Dobbins, Howard Gentry, chair, Gwen Harris, Mary Kate Mouser, Bishop George W. Price, Barbara Toms,
Attorney: Christy Feldman; Mary Johnston.
Approval of New Business Model for Planning and Coordination:
Mr. Gentry gave commissioners the opportunity for more discussion of the seven recommendations for a new Business Model that were presented to the Board at the last meeting and discussed in length at the Board Retreat on Jan. 9.
But based on the conversations held the day prior (at the Board Retreat), Mr. Gentry believed the proper procedure was to move forward with a motion.
A motion was made by Dr. Frank Boehm that the Board accept the recommendations that were made by the Ad Hoc Committee on Planning and Coordination.
Motion seconded by Bishop Price.
Mr. Gentry asked if this included the changes that were discussed at yesterday’s Board Retreat.
Dr. Boehm said yesterday’s changes centered on the phrase of “dependent home care” and suggested that the motion should include that the Board would finalize the wording of “dependent home care” perhaps at some time in the future.
The Board approved to withdraw the first motion, and Dr. Boehm made a new motion and moved that the Board approve the Ad Hoc Committee’s seven recommendations on planning and coordination with the provision that the term “dependent home care” will be reviewed at a subsequent time and place for possible change in wording.
The motion was properly seconded (Price) and unanimously approved by the full Board.
Personnel Committee’s Review of Director’s achievement of Performance Measures:
Mr. Gentry introduced the next item during which the executive director, Gerri Robinson, stepped out of the room.
Ms. Dobbins as the chair of the Personnel Committee (other voting members of the Personnel Committee include Mary Kate Mouser and Bishop George Price) presented that committee’s recommendation. Ms. Dobbins explained that the executive director’s one-year contract was approved on Feb. 8, 2008. When that was approved, the Board decided to attach performance measures to the contract. The Board approved those performance measures in June.
“We recommend a new contract be offered for a two-year period to Gerri Robinson to continue as the executive director of Metro Social Services.”
That recommendation from the Personnel Committee was presented as a motion.
Ms. Dobbins consequently went through the performance measures and explained where they came from and how they were collected. The goal was to come up with performance measures that would offer some statistical information. Ms. Dobbins said Ms. Mouser (who was unable to attend the last Personnel Committee meeting, and therefore, did not vote on the recommendation) was extremely helpful in setting up appropriate evaluation measures.
“Our standards were very high and they have to be met or succeeded by the data,” Ms. Dobbins said, adding that Ms. Robinson met or succeeded all performance measures.
The only outstanding data is an overall needs assessment that will be commissioned through a contractor. The RFP on the contract was sent out in June with the contract to be issued this month.
Mr. Gentry pointed out that there was a motion on the floor to renew Ms. Robinson’s contract for two more years.
Action on Director’s Request for Contract Renewal:
Prior to moving on the motion, discussion continued and each Board member stated his/her reasons in support of or against renewing the contract.
Mr. Gentry questioned whether creating another compromise by offering a two-year contract, instead of a five-year contract, would move the Board forward and renew the image of the Department.
Bishop Price said he was in favor for another one-year contract because for one, he realized that Ms. Robinson did not have four votes for a two-year contract and secondly, he believed it was the right thing to do in the current economic situation.
Ms. Toms stated that she was on this Board because she had made a commitment to try to be a voice for people who do not have a voice. “We have been making some very bold moves and that is toward planning and coordination as a way to help vulnerable people because we don’t have the resources, the money, and if we did, I think it still would be best for us.”
However, Ms. Toms continued, she doubted that planning and coordination was within the vision of this executive director.
Ms. Harris stated that she didn’t believe that the Board had delineated a clear vision to the executive director. She pointed to the past couple of years when “we didn’t know where we were going.”
Ms. Harris said she believes the Board needs to do planning and coordination, but also is charged with the responsibility to do social services. As an employer, Ms. Harris continued, she did not think the Board totally defined to its employee “this is where we want to go and this is where I want you to carry me.”
Howard Gentry opened the table for a motion.
Dot Dobbins repeated her motion based on the Personnel Committee’s recommendation to offer a new contract for a two-year period to Gerri Robinson to continue as the executive director of Metro Social Services … to begin at the end of the current contract.
The motion was not seconded. The motion died due to a lack of a second.
Bishop Price made a motion to offer Gerri Robinson a one-year contract as executive director of Metro Social Services. The motion was seconded by Gwen Harris.
Mr. Gentry clarified that a vote against a one-year contract would mean the end of a contract with the current executive director.
Discussion:
Dr. Boehm stated that he would vote against a recommendation to renew the contract for one year. He said to him planning and coordination was crucial. But based on his evaluation of the Department’s activities in planning and coordination during previous years and certainly the past year, there was no real and substantive planning and coordination activity going on. Secondly, he said he did not believe the executive director had the skill set that was needed to move into the new direction that sets a priority on planning and coordination.
Ms. Mouser said that over the last year members of the MSS Board have come together as a commission. “Change is hard, and we’re at a cross roads,” Ms. Mouser said, adding that for MSS to continue to grow and be in a place the Board wants to be, planning and coordination needed to be the focus. However, she said that she had not seen the commitment and skill set for the executive director to do that.
Further discussion centered on comments that this was a difficult decision that was not meant to be a personal reflection on the director. But that the community wanted a change. Ms. Dobbins said that Ms. Robinson has met or succeeded all outcomes set for her in the performance measures, and that she felt as an employer the Board did not set clear tasks for its employee. Ms. Toms said that planning and coordination had been regularly pushed as a priority for the department in every Board meeting.
Ms. Harris called for question. Dr. Boehm seconded. The Board approved to move on the motion.
Final vote on the motion to renew the executive director’s contract for one year starting Feb. 20, 2009: 3 members voted for renewal, 4 voted against.
In support of a one-year contract were commissioners Price, Harris and Dobbins.
Against a renewal of contract were commissioners Mouser, Toms, Boehm, and Gentry.
Discussion began about the next steps. Dr. Boehm suggested appointing an interim director. It was decided to give Ms. Robinson the opportunity to decide whether she wanted to leave immediately or stay until next month when her contract expires.
Mr. Gentry said he would meet with the Metro Personnel Department (Human Resources) to determine what the next step for the Board was in its search of a new director. Then he would call for a Board meeting.
Dr. Boehm said the message of the Board to the public should be, “We thank Gerri for the hard work she has done for the years she has been there. We appreciate the hard work. There have been many things that have gone well. However, the Board feels we’re moving in a new direction, and we believe that we need a leadership change to take us in this new direction.”
The Board called Ms. Robinson into the room, informed her of the vote and decisions and thanked her for her service to the Department. Ms. Robinson said she chose to stay on through the end of her contract. “I will not leave a mess.” She said she would do everything to ensure a smooth transition and ease an interim director into the Metro budget process, which will start Jan. 15.
The Board told Ms. Robinson that they would like to organize an activity for her before she leaves to show their appreciation and allow staff, stakeholders and the community to do the same. Ms. Robinson, however, asked whether she could graciously decline such an offer and instead ask for a donation to the Board’s favorite charity or a donation to Ms. Robinson’s favorite charity. She assured the Board that she would take care of her staff.
Mr. Gentry and Ms. Robinson set up a meeting for Monday morning.
Mr. Gentry made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Ms. Toms, and approved.