Meeting Minutes: Preliminary Screening Committee
Meeting Date: Not explicitly stated, but implied to be a morning meeting. Governing Body: Preliminary Screening Committee Type of Meeting: Committee Meeting Attendees: Megan Baer, Matt Nelson, Melissa Peters, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Denise Simmons Absent: Raisha Catchings, Vice Mayor Marc McGovern
Executive Summary: The Preliminary Screening Committee convened to review applicants for the City Clerk position. The committee voted to immediately enter into executive session to prevent a detrimental effect on obtaining qualified applicants, with no return to open session. Public comments were not accepted during the meeting, but written communications were encouraged.
1. Call to Order and Remote Participation Announcement
- Mayor Denise Simmons called the meeting to order.
- The purpose of the meeting was stated as reviewing applicants for the City Clerk position.
- It was announced that the committee would be going into executive session and would not return to open session, as holding the meeting in open session would have a "detrimental effect on obtaining qualified applicants."
- No public comment was allowed during the meeting.
- Members of the public were advised to submit written communications to the City Clerk's office at cityclerk@cambridgema.gov.
- Remote participation was authorized pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Act of 2025 by the Massachusetts General Court.
2. Roll Call
- Ms. Irwin conducted a roll call of the committee members.
- Present: Megan Baer, Matt Nelson, Melissa Peters, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Denise Simmons.
- Absent: Raisha Catchings, Vice Mayor Marc McGovern.
- A quorum was declared with five members present.
3. Motion to Enter Executive Session
- A motion was made by Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler to enter into executive session.
- Vote on Motion to Enter Executive Session:
- Yes: Megan Baer, Matt Nelson, Melissa Peters, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Denise Simmons (5 votes)
- No: (0 votes)
- Abstain: (0 votes)
- Absent: Raisha Catchings, Vice Mayor Marc McGovern (2 members)
- The motion passed unanimously among the present members.
- The committee announced that the current meeting link would be closed, and members would transition to a separate link for the executive session. No return to open session was planned.