MONROE - Candidates for the recently created city administrator with legal duties position will be interviewed Oct. 28.
In a meeting Tuesday, the City of Monroe Salary and Personnel Committee agreed to bring in all three candidates, each for 45-minute interviews starting at 5:30 p.m. in closed sessions, at City Hall.
"Ideally, we will be down to one or two, after that," Committee Chairman Mark Coplien said.
The three finalists for the administrator position, selected Oct. 6 from six applicants, were James L. Gitz, Prairie du Chien; Rex A. Ewald, Monroe; and James A. Mogen, Rice, Minn.
Police Chief Fred Kelley said he would have the public records investigation of the candidates' backgrounds completed and available to committee members by that time.
Coplien asked that the Council as a whole be in attendance for the interviews.
He also made arrangements to have an open session scheduled after the interviews when committee members will determine their next step in the process.
One part of the hiring process Coplien would like to include is a visit to the city of the final candidate, partly for the purpose of verifying experience and accomplishments.
"That's one thing we didn't get to do last time," he said.
In 2005, the city paid a professional firm for conducting most of the hiring process.
City Clerk Carol Stamm said she had a copy of questions used during the previous administrator interview process, and a list of what to avoid in an interview, available for committee members.
Committee member and Council President Dan Henke recommended Coplien take the lead in asking questions presented by council members, so as not to "bombard" candidates with questions during the interviews.
Gitz, current city administrator of Prairie du Chien, will resign that position effective Dec. 31. He holds degrees in economics and law. He was previously the chief counsel in Urbana, Ill., a two-term mayor of Freeport, Ill., and an Illinois state senator.
Ewald, current city attorney for the City of Monroe, holds degrees in economics, geography and law. He has practiced law in Monroe since 1979, and is a partner in the Voegeli, Ewald and Bartholf Law Offices. He has been active on the Green County YMCA board of directors; served as chairman for the United Way of Green County fundraising campaign; and volunteers as legal counsel to the Green County Cheese Days, Inc.
Mogen holds a degree in environmental studies and law, and is currently working on a graduate certificate in public administration. He served with the office of Minnesota Attorney General, representing the departments of Transportation, and Labor and Industry. He also served as a staff member with the Metropolitan Council, the Ramsey County Attorney's office and the Minnesota Senate.
Applicants needed a degree from an accredited law school, five years of legal experience with three in municipal law, and to be a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association. The city administrator will be required to write policies, ordinances, resolutions, contracts and agreements, and other legal documents, as well as provide litigation, prosecution and other legal services for the city. Human Resources duties, including overseeing all personnel matters, remain in the job description.
In a meeting Tuesday, the City of Monroe Salary and Personnel Committee agreed to bring in all three candidates, each for 45-minute interviews starting at 5:30 p.m. in closed sessions, at City Hall.
"Ideally, we will be down to one or two, after that," Committee Chairman Mark Coplien said.
The three finalists for the administrator position, selected Oct. 6 from six applicants, were James L. Gitz, Prairie du Chien; Rex A. Ewald, Monroe; and James A. Mogen, Rice, Minn.
Police Chief Fred Kelley said he would have the public records investigation of the candidates' backgrounds completed and available to committee members by that time.
Coplien asked that the Council as a whole be in attendance for the interviews.
He also made arrangements to have an open session scheduled after the interviews when committee members will determine their next step in the process.
One part of the hiring process Coplien would like to include is a visit to the city of the final candidate, partly for the purpose of verifying experience and accomplishments.
"That's one thing we didn't get to do last time," he said.
In 2005, the city paid a professional firm for conducting most of the hiring process.
City Clerk Carol Stamm said she had a copy of questions used during the previous administrator interview process, and a list of what to avoid in an interview, available for committee members.
Committee member and Council President Dan Henke recommended Coplien take the lead in asking questions presented by council members, so as not to "bombard" candidates with questions during the interviews.
Gitz, current city administrator of Prairie du Chien, will resign that position effective Dec. 31. He holds degrees in economics and law. He was previously the chief counsel in Urbana, Ill., a two-term mayor of Freeport, Ill., and an Illinois state senator.
Ewald, current city attorney for the City of Monroe, holds degrees in economics, geography and law. He has practiced law in Monroe since 1979, and is a partner in the Voegeli, Ewald and Bartholf Law Offices. He has been active on the Green County YMCA board of directors; served as chairman for the United Way of Green County fundraising campaign; and volunteers as legal counsel to the Green County Cheese Days, Inc.
Mogen holds a degree in environmental studies and law, and is currently working on a graduate certificate in public administration. He served with the office of Minnesota Attorney General, representing the departments of Transportation, and Labor and Industry. He also served as a staff member with the Metropolitan Council, the Ramsey County Attorney's office and the Minnesota Senate.
Applicants needed a degree from an accredited law school, five years of legal experience with three in municipal law, and to be a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association. The city administrator will be required to write policies, ordinances, resolutions, contracts and agreements, and other legal documents, as well as provide litigation, prosecution and other legal services for the city. Human Resources duties, including overseeing all personnel matters, remain in the job description.