Particularly given the cloud under which the previous city administrator left Monroe, it would be reasonable for the Monroe City Council to leave no stone unturned in its background checks of the remaining candidates for the position. Whether that actually will happen remains unclear.
When three finalists for the revised administrator position were named Oct. 12, it was believed that background checks of public documents would be conducted and submitted to city officials interviewing the candidates. Such checks could reveal such information as traffic violations and criminal or civil charges that could potentially disqualify a candidate. Frankly, this sort of check should have been done before the field was narrowed from six to three.
By the time the finalists were interviewed in closed session Oct. 28, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said his department was asked only to verify references in the candidates' applications. When the field was narrowed to current City Attorney Rex Ewald and James A. Mogen, Rice, Minn., it was announced that city officials would make site visits of each of the candidates.
Last week, it was learned that a Monroe police officer would be making those visits instead.
Obviously, a "site visit" of Ewald isn't really necessary. He's been the city attorney for years, and has practiced law in Monroe for 30 years. City leaders should have very few questions about what kind of administrator Ewald would be. They should already know.
But a thorough check of Mogen's background and the gathering of insight into how he works, supervises and leads is critical to the Monroe Common Council's decision-making process. The city does not have the benefit of having worked decades with Mogen to determine the strength of his candidacy.
There's only so much insight that can be gathered by interviewing a candidate for administrator for an hour or so and reviewing a resume. A site visit with people a candidate's worked with and for can provide valuable information.
Hopefully, before the Monroe Common Council registers its final decision on hiring an administrator, it will have as much information as is reasonable and possible to make the determination.
When three finalists for the revised administrator position were named Oct. 12, it was believed that background checks of public documents would be conducted and submitted to city officials interviewing the candidates. Such checks could reveal such information as traffic violations and criminal or civil charges that could potentially disqualify a candidate. Frankly, this sort of check should have been done before the field was narrowed from six to three.
By the time the finalists were interviewed in closed session Oct. 28, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said his department was asked only to verify references in the candidates' applications. When the field was narrowed to current City Attorney Rex Ewald and James A. Mogen, Rice, Minn., it was announced that city officials would make site visits of each of the candidates.
Last week, it was learned that a Monroe police officer would be making those visits instead.
Obviously, a "site visit" of Ewald isn't really necessary. He's been the city attorney for years, and has practiced law in Monroe for 30 years. City leaders should have very few questions about what kind of administrator Ewald would be. They should already know.
But a thorough check of Mogen's background and the gathering of insight into how he works, supervises and leads is critical to the Monroe Common Council's decision-making process. The city does not have the benefit of having worked decades with Mogen to determine the strength of his candidacy.
There's only so much insight that can be gathered by interviewing a candidate for administrator for an hour or so and reviewing a resume. A site visit with people a candidate's worked with and for can provide valuable information.
Hopefully, before the Monroe Common Council registers its final decision on hiring an administrator, it will have as much information as is reasonable and possible to make the determination.
