Medford council approves posting for new city clerk and debates council role in vetting candidates

The Medford City Council approved posting a job description for the city clerk and deferred a final decision on full council access to initial resumes after debate about confidentiality and open‑meeting law.

President Behrs presented a resolution establishing steps for recruiting and hiring a city clerk after the incumbent announced a resignation effective Dec. 31. The process outlined screening by human resources, staged interviews and final confirmation by the council.

Several councilors pressed for broader council involvement. Councilor Scarpelli said the city clerk is the council’s sole direct employee and argued the council should review initial applications and vet candidates together, potentially using executive session to maintain confidentiality. HR Director Lisa Crowley said HR can distribute the resumes of applicants who meet minimum qualifications. Solicitor Foley cautioned that recording interviews could create public‑records disclosure obligations and said he would check whether executive session for reviewing all applications is a proper use of statute.

Councilors proposed practical steps: post the job with agreed edits, distribute packets of qualifying resumes to councilors, and seek the solicitor’s written guidance on whether the council may convene an executive session to discuss applicants. The council authorized HR to post the amended job description and tabled the main resolution for one week to allow Solictor Foley to confirm legal options.

What happens next: HR will post the position and provide an edited job description to the council; the solicitor will advise whether the full council may review applications in executive session or whether an alternative vetting process is required.