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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Friday They got algorithm Posters about missing teen will be distributed Competition keen at first city chili cookoff Alice Hardesty shares healing memoir Education Ashland schools expand chicken pox exclusion rules Students go behind the scenes at hospital Ashland robotics team aims to build a winner AHS ranked No. 7 by Niche College debt load balloons: What could, should be done? 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In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Sports Latest Stories Respect: sock it to him A Grizz sweep Heisman winner Mariota says he's going to the NFL Comets press past Grizzlies Buckeyes won title behind line play, Elliott and Jones High school A Grizz sweep Comets press past Grizzlies Raiders put on a show Graham sparks Grizzly rout Ashland drops MWL opener to Marist Southern Oregon University Heisman winner Mariota says he's going to the NFL Buckeyes won title behind line play, Elliott and Jones Sayre says character key to SOU's success Ducks grounded Raiders put on a show Opinion Latest Stories Kent Bush: Capital punishment raises questions Our View: A matter of survival Letters to the Editor, Jan. 16 Other Views: Get GMO rules right Editor's Notes: We were wrong Editorial Our View: A matter of survival Other Views: Get GMO rules right Our View: No benefit from LNG pipeline Our View: Putting slash to work Our view: Protect Ashland's crown Letters Letters to the Editor, Jan. 16 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 14 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 5 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 31 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 29 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Bikes, hikers/equestrians need separate watershed trails Guest Opinion: SOU biomass burner would be big mistake Guest Opinion: City hiring policy is fair, unbiased Another view: Cheney defends nation's journey into darkness Herb Rothschild Jr.: Fury impedes justice Revels Latest Stories Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Best Bets: Jan. 15-22 A look at the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. 'Spotlight' highlights Orbison's life, music 'Selma' struggle remains relevant today Theater Insights into the gifts theater offers off the stage Theater is an act of co-creation ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Music Jeff Kloetzel at Belle Fiore The Farr Side: Top 10 album count-up for 2014 Visual Art Schneider winter exhibits on tap: 'Baker's Dozen' and 'New Works' First Friday kicks off a new year Movies Movie review: ‘Blackhat’ is a frustrating 404 error Movie review: ‘A Most Violent Year’ is a gritty look at oily dealings in ’80s New York Movie review: Clint Eastwood shines as director in ‘American Sniper’ 'Selma' struggle remains relevant today Interview: Bradley Cooper discusses working with Clint Eastwood on ‘American Sniper’ Food and Drink Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Cadillac Escalade Dr. Jeff Hersh: Heart test causes undue alarm Dr. Murray Feingold: How reliable is the medical information we read? Looking Up: Comet passes by the Pleiades Suzette Martinez Standring: Chance advice was eerie Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Our View: A matter of survival ... Posters about missing teen will be distributed ... Brammo bought by Polaris ... Our View: A matter of survival ... Posters about missing teen will be distributed ... Brammo bought by Polaris ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: City hiring policy is fair, unbiased Comment By John Stromberg DailyTidings.com By John Stromberg Posted Jan. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am By John Stromberg Posted Jan. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News For the past several months I have been mentally composing a letter to the editor of this newspaper, complimenting you on the remarkable job you have done bringing the Tidings back to life as a readable and relevant community newspaper. I've been especially impressed with your feeling for the community and its history, as exhibited best in your editorials. But I held off because I was sure that as soon as I submitted my letter you would write one that was so far off the mark I would have to retort. The Jan. 8 editorial, "A worthwhile goal", was that piece. Here's my reply. It's true that all the city's department heads, plus the city administrator and city attorney are white males. What isn't true and what can't be deduced from the current make-up of the city staff is that this is due to lack of effort to recruit qualified women or minority candidates, as required by our Affirmative Action Policy as well as the personal values of the City Council, myself, the city administrator, city attorney and our HR manager. These are the facts: Since your source of information on this subject left office four years ago, there have been four hiring processes: two for AFN/electric director, one for city attorney and one for (the current) city administrator. (The Parks & Recreation Commission conducted its own recruitment and hiring process for its new director.) In two of these recruitments, including our most recent recruitment for city administrator, women were selected as finalists. However, the Affirmative Action Policy does not require us to hire minority or female candidates. It states, “All employment actions will be made without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability (perceived or known), national origin, or any other basis prohibited by law.” We followed that policy and hired the candidates we determined were best qualified. For the most recent AFN/electric recruitment, we were unable to attract any female applicants. The city administrator and I specifically discussed this problem with our recruiter, who happened to be an African American woman. She told us she simply could not find qualified candidates who fulfilled the goals of our Affirmative Action Policy. We do not think it was for lack of effort on her part. Also, I would like to point out that diversity is more than just gender or ethnicity. We strive to hire employees who bring diversity of background, opinion, and experience to enrich the work environment. We also seek to hire employees who bring a passion for public service, an open mind and a can-do attitude — all these traits can be found in anyone regardless of race, gender or ethnic background. We all are personally committed to fairness in employment and we all appreciate the value that diversity provides. However, four recruitments in four years is a very small sample size on which to validate the accusation you reiterated in your editorial. What’s more, the citizen's statement that the city’s entire managerial staff is white males — which you printed in an article then repeated in the editorial — is simply false and an affront to the many highly-qualified professional women and minorities who fill the ranks of our management team. I think basic fairness in editorial writing, if not simple professional courtesy and respect, would have dictated discussing the editorial’s subject matter and fact-checking with me and/or the city administrator. After all, we were the ones who actually did the recruiting and appointments. The many improvements you’ve made to the Tidings have created an expectation of a higher standard; a standard that was unfortunately missed in this case. I'm hopeful you’ll return to this standard next time. John Stromberg is mayor of Ashland. By John Stromberg DailyTidings.com By John Stromberg Posted Jan. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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