Document text
CLOUDY Temp: 61 °F Wind: WNW at 5 mph Monday, September 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 9, 2003 MURA board member among finalists for top job By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A head-hunting firm has narrowed the search for Medford Urban Renewal Agency’s director to four candidates, including one of the agency’s founding board members. The decision to include Medford’s Sue Densmore among the four finalists has raised questions about the process with at least one applicant. The other three finalists are Kurt Olsen of Lincoln City, Russell Brink of Eugene and John Wesley of Stillwater, Okla. Densmore was serving on the MURA board and had been a selection committee member, but in August she resigned both positions and applied for the director’s job. Advertisement The person selected from among 52 applicants will replace Don Burt, who retired April 1. Dave Longey, of Phoenix, Ariz., was one of those 52 and said he’s suspicious about the process. "I didn’t even get a chance for an initial interview, which strikes me as odd," said Longey. The community planner and professional landscape architect said with more than 40 years’ experience, including serving as a board member of the Butte, Mont., urban revitalization agency and the downtown Phoenix joint urban renewal committee, he should have at least been in the first round of interviews. "Clearly, anybody reading my resume would have to say this guy is as deserving of an interview as Sue Densmore is," he said. Longey said he doesn’t know Densmore but has read online about her decision to apply. MURA is paying Waldron & Co., a Lake Oswego firm that handles public sector not-for-profit searches, up to $25,000 to handle the search. John Deller of Waldron & Co. said experience was only one of the requirements. He said the firm also is looking for someone with good communication skills who has the ability to build partnerships. Densmore, owner of Sue Densmore Communication Strategies, a consulting firm, has served on the MURA board since its inception in 1988 and has a lot of established relationships around the region, said Deller. She managed Rogue Disposal and Recycling before opening her consulting firm. Longey also noted that Densmore submitted her application "after the submittal period had already closed." "There may not be a conflict there, but there was a change of rules," he said. He said he and others worked to respond in a timely manner and has never seen an application process handled like that. "That is an irregularity," he said. Deller said that sometimes cities and states have tight deadlines, but in this case once Densmore considered applying, the selection committee, made up of John Michaels, Skip Patterson and Bill Dames, decided to be flexible on the deadline. Longey said his concern is not just sour grapes. "My point is I’m not arguing that I wasn’t picked for the job, I’m arguing that I haven’t been interviewed for the job," he said. The four candidates will be interviewed today and meet with a community panel and the MURA board. Deller said it is unlikely that the board will make its final decision today but "it could be as quickly as a few days," he said. "Normally it’s within a week." The MURA board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in City Council chambers, 411 West Eighth St., Medford. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times