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Meeting Minutes: City Clerk's Preliminary Screening Committee

Meeting Date: [Date of Meeting - Not explicitly stated in transcript, assume current date for placeholder] Governing Body: City Clerk's Preliminary Screening Committee Type of Meeting: Preliminary Screening Committee Meeting

Attendees: * Raisha Catchings * Marc McGovern, Vice Mayor * Matt Nelson * Melissa Peters * Denise Simmons, Mayor

Absent: * Megan Behr * Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, City Councilor

Executive Summary

The City Clerk's Preliminary Screening Committee convened to review and interview applicants for the City Clerk position. The committee voted unanimously to enter into executive session to conduct these interviews, citing the detrimental effect on obtaining qualified applicants if conducted in open session. No public comment was taken, and the committee adjourned directly from executive session.

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

• The meeting was called to order by Mayor Denise Simmons.
• Roll Call:
  • Megan Behr: Absent
  • Raisha Catchings: Present
  • Vice Mayor Marc McGovern: Present
  • Matt Nelson: Present
  • Melissa Peters: Present
  • Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler: Absent
  • Mayor Denise Simmons: Present
• Outcome: Five members were present, two were absent. A quorum was affirmed.

2. Purpose of the Meeting

• The purpose of the meeting was to review and interview applicants for the position of City Clerk.

3. Executive Session Discussion

• Mayor Simmons stated that the committee would be going into executive session.
• Reason for Executive Session: Conducting interviews in open session would have a detrimental effect on obtaining qualified applicants.
• The committee would adjourn in executive session and would not return to open session.

4. Public Comment

• No public comment was permitted during this meeting.
• Members of the public were advised to submit written communications to the City Clerk's office at cityclerk@cambridgema.gov.

5. Remote Participation Authorization

• The city is authorized to use remote participation at meetings of the Cambridge City Council and its committees, pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, adopted by the Massachusetts General Court and approved by the Governor.

6. Motion to Enter Executive Session

• Motion: Vice Mayor Marc McGovern moved to go into Executive Session.
• Vote (Roll Call):
  • Megan Behr: Yes
  • Raisha Catchings: Yes
  • Vice Mayor Marc McGovern: Yes
  • Matt Nelson: Yes
  • Melissa Peters: Yes
  • Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler: Absent
  • Mayor Denise Simmons: Yes
• Outcome: The motion passed with 6 votes in favor, 0 against, and 1 absent.
• The committee proceeded into executive session and adjourned from there.