CRA board pauses two job adverts and closes director posting pending board review

The CRA board voted to halt two job advertisements and to close the CRA director posting during the meeting.

Board member Carlson raised concerns about two newly posted job descriptions — a communications/engagement manager and a contracts/development manager — saying the postings’ duties suggested supervisory lines that could conflict with the CRA director’s authority. He asked for clearer reporting structure and language that limits candidates to CRA activities rather than broad city redevelopment work.

Board member Carlson moved, and board member Maniscalco seconded, a motion asking the city HR department to stop advertising the CRA communications position and the contracts position, obtain board and CRA counsel Shepherd’s feedback on criteria, and return revised job descriptions and advertisement text to the board on March 13 for approval. The board approved the motion.

Separately, the board voted to close the CRA director position posting effective the meeting date and to allow board members to interview selected candidates. Each board member may interview candidates and return their top three recommendations to an office by March 6 to support the selection process.

Why it matters: board members said the advertised job descriptions should align with CRA responsibilities and reporting lines to avoid management confusion. The board sought written job descriptions and alignment with CRA oversight before the city advertises roles that CRA money or operations would affect.

Ending: HR will pause advertisement, work with counsel and board aides to revise job descriptions, and return proposed language at the March 13 meeting. Board members will proceed with interviews and report preferred candidates to staff by March 6.