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Howard County IG Advisory Board hears HR report on 58 applicants, schedules interviews for July 31
Summary
Howard County HR told the Inspector General Advisory Board it received about 58 applications for the IG post, with roughly a dozen meeting preferred qualifications; the board set July 31 to begin interviews and agreed to receive candidate binders or electronic packets.
Director Bennett of Howard County human resources told the Inspector General Advisory Board on July 15 that the IG job posting closed July 11 and that HR and contractor Robert Half together received about 58 applications.
Bennett said roughly half of the applicants were ruled unqualified for the position's minimum requirements, about 25 appear to meet the minimum qualifications and "approximately a dozen" are currently identified as closer to the board's preferred qualifications. "We've received over, I believe, 58 applications," Bennett said, and HR is asking candidates to provide diplomas, certifications and other documentation so the department can validate degrees and credentials.
The HR team said it and Robert Half have created a standardized spreadsheet and criteria so candidates can be compared consistently. Bennett said HR will also perform reference checks and review candidates' experience for fraud, waste and abuse investigations when relevant. On Robert Half's submissions, Bennett said the contractor submitted four candidates and believed three of those were closer to the preferred qualifications; HR will vet those candidates as well.
Board members discussed how they will receive candidate materials. Bennett described a hybrid packet: a summary spreadsheet listing degrees, certifications and years of experience for each candidate plus a candidate profile containing the application, resume, cover letter and a writing sample. Large attachments would be uploaded to a shared drive and board staff (Nick and Isaiah) will coordinate delivery. "We can provide you a writing sample, their application, their resume," Bennett said, adding that large attachments could be referenced in each candidate's profile.
The board discussed logistics for interviews. Chair Salim outlined a two-round process with at least three interviewers present for each round; he and Ms. Downs volunteered to sit on the second-round panel. Members recommended that the same three interviewers conduct second-round finalist interviews for continuity. The board also discussed recording interviews for members who could not attend in person; staff said the county has the technology to record if the board requests it, and members favored recording all interviews if any are recorded for the sake of consistency.
The board set its next meeting for July 31 at 6:30 p.m. and agreed to use that meeting to begin planning interviews after members have had time to review the candidate binders or electronic packets HR said it would deliver next week. The meeting opened with and later approved a motion to accept the board minutes dated June 17, 2025.
The board adjourned after scheduling the July 31 meeting.
