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South Pasadena board forms ad hoc committee to help recruit library director; board records three unanimous votes
Summary
City Manager Todd Heilman told trustees he has retained a recruiter and plans an expedited timeline for hiring a new library director. The board voted to create an ad hoc screening committee and later appointed two trustees to serve; the board also approved minutes from its September meeting.
The City of South Pasadena Library Board of Trustees on Oct. 9 voted to form an ad hoc subcommittee to screen candidates and assist City Manager Todd Heilman in recruiting a new library director.
City Manager Todd Heilman said the municipal code asks the board to establish an ad hoc committee that will work with the city to recommend an appointment. Heilman told trustees he has hired a recruitment firm, is finalizing a brochure and expects to accept résumés through November with the goal of beginning interviews in early December if enough qualified candidates apply. “I’ve expedited the recruit…the recruiter and the recruitment because I’m concerned about the holiday season,” Heilman said.
The board said it plans to use a screening subcommittee to narrow candidates to finalists and then involve the full board, staff panels and the city manager in interview panels. Heilman said he expects library staff to participate in screenings and that the board would interview finalists. He added that current Library Director Kathy will remain on staff to support the transition and may serve on interview panels.
Nut graf: The board moved quickly to set a small screening committee so hiring steps can proceed before holiday scheduling constrains candidate availability. Trustees voiced support for including employee input and for shaping interview questions in advance so panels can evaluate different management and policy priorities.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to create an ad hoc committee to assist with selection of the library director: moved by Minson Meeker; seconded by Dean Serlin; roll-call vote — Ed Pearson: Yes; Minson Meeker: Yes; Dean Serlin: Yes. Outcome: approved.
- Motion to appoint trustees Annie (last name not specified in the record) and Dean Serlin as the board members of the ad hoc subcommittee: mover not specified in the transcript; second not specified in the transcript; roll-call vote — Ed Pearson: Yes; Minson Meeker: Yes; Dean Serlin: Yes. Outcome: approved.
- Motion to approve minutes of the Sept. 11, 2025 trustees meeting: mover and seconder not specified in the transcript; roll-call vote — Minson Meeker: Yes; Edward Pearson: Yes; Dean Serlin: Yes. Outcome: approved.
Board members and staff emphasized process details: trustees asked about how candidates will be publicized, timing, and whether the full board’s interviews would be public. Heilman said the city will advertise through the recruiter’s channels, accept résumés through November and aim for early-December interviews if candidate volume permits. He said if a search slips to January it would not be a problem.
Heilman and trustees discussed Brown Act limits on subcommittee composition; Heilman noted no more than two trustees should serve on the screening subcommittee to avoid serial-meeting issues under the Brown Act. Trustees said they want the full board involved in finalist interviews; Heilman said the city will alert candidates that some interviews may be publicly observable.
The board asked trustees to prepare candidate priorities and suggested submitting interview questions in advance so panels can use consistent criteria. Heilman said he intends to rank candidates across panels and collect those rankings for final consideration.
Ending: Trustees agreed to prepare interview questions and to reconvene work on recruitment at the November meeting; Heilman said he will share updates and screening schedules as candidates are identified.
