Search Committee Seeks Trustees' Comments

RFH 2010, Featured Articles, Village of Hamilton

Wed, Oct 12, 2011

Committee searching for new dean of the college asks trustees for suggestions, comments

Search Committee Seeks Trustees' Comments

What should the committee seeking a new vice president and dean of the college for Colgate be looking for in the candidates it will interview and the person it will hire next year?

That was what four members of the search committee asked the village Board of Trustees at Tuesday night's regular monthly meeting. The committee is seeking a replacement for Charlotte Johnson, who resigned earlier this year to take a position at Dartmouth.

Carolyn Hsu,(second from left in photo) chair of sociology an anthropology at Colgate and a member of the search committee, said the group was at the meeting because the dean of the college is the university administrator with the most direct interaction with the village.

Mayor Margaret Miller said a concern of hers is dealing with undesirable behavior by some students when off campus and in the village. Several trustees expressed concern about students living off-campus and in the village.

Trustee Sam Cooper suggested that the person hired to fill the position needs to understand the village is a different place on weekends than during the week. Trustee Anne Clauss suggested the new VP and dean "walk a mile in everyone's shoes" so they understand all points of view of residents.

Trustee Russ Lura said he hoped the new hire would live in the village. Hsu said village residency is a requirement of the position, and that Colgate provides a home for the person.

Trustee Debbie Kliman suggested the ideal candidate would be able to communicate with people of all ages.

Hsu said she expects the position will be filled in the spring with the new VP and dean joining the staff in July.

In other action Tuesday, the village board:

approved the addition of seven new members to the volunteer fire department, including six Colgate students;
learned that Barb Coger, director of the Hamilton Public Library plans to retire in September of next year;
was told the theme for the 2012 Fourth of July parade will be America The Beautiful;
heard a brief recap of the summer recreation program, in which 231 children were enrolled, a new high;
discussed the creation of a second volleyball court at the Eaton Street fields;
was told the building to house the equipment to create the salt brine spread on village streets in the winter is nearing completion;
learned nine new light poles will be installed on the lower end of Broad Street;
was told by Trustee Anne Clauss that the Partnership for Community Development is interviewing for a new executive director;
created an advisory committee on parks;
created a meal allowance for village employees, including $8 each for breakfast and lunch and $20 for dinner;
approved the use of a new job application form;
was told four windows are being replaced at the fire hall;
approved adding Melisa Davies to the commission overseeing the Lee Brown Coye mural hanging in the post office;