Mass Cultural Council begins executive director search; Chair proposes small task force with external input

Chair Ché Anderson opened the April 14 Mass Cultural Council Executive Committee meeting by saying it was an honor to serve as chair and identifying the Executive Director search as a top priority for the Council. He asked members to share nominations from across the Commonwealth and said he hoped to present a proposed task force at the May 19 Council meeting.

The Acting Executive Director, David Slatery, reviewed how the Open Meeting Law has been interpreted in past searches. Slatery said advisory search groups appointed by the Chair have typically not been treated as public bodies in early advisory stages and that preliminary screening may be conducted in executive session by a duly appointed task force so long as the group does not constitute a quorum of the Council. He cautioned that engaging a search firm or actively considering named candidates will trigger Open Meeting Law obligations and that, under the Council's enabling act, appointment or removal of an Executive Director requires concurrence of the Chair and a majority of the Council.

Council members discussed the tradeoffs of engaging an external search firm versus managing the process internally. Simone Early said she was "not opposed to including external participants" and noted a previous search used an outside firm, which can lend credibility and clarity. Vice Chair Jo-Ann W. Davis, drawing on her human resources and legal background, said she generally favors engaging an external firm for senior hires because it helps ensure an arm's-length process but acknowledged cost considerations. Julie Wake and other members emphasized the value of diverse perspectives and staff capacity as factors in deciding whether to contract externally.

Chair Anderson said he would welcome nominations by April 24 to inform the proposed task force and reiterated that the May 19 update would include a finalized task force and the Council's consideration of whether to retain a search firm. He also clarified there would be an update only in May on the search process and that the Council would not vote on an RFR for a search firm at that meeting.

The committee concluded the discussion with a plan to circulate a clear description of task-force roles and responsibilities before members submit recommendations. The Council welcomed input from cultural-sector leaders and others whose participation might also strengthen cross-sector partnerships.

Next steps: Council members were asked to submit nominations by April 24; staff will prepare a role description for task-force members and present a proposed task force at the May 19 meeting.