Search committee to seek security director
Arrighi steps up to lead Public Safety
By: Marianna Nash, Sharon So
Issue date: 12/10/09 Section: News
Following Paul Ominsky’s announced resignation as Director of the merged Public Safety Department, Mary Jo Maydew, Vice President for Finance and Administration, has formed a search committee. The committee consists of the Deans of Students at Hampshire and at Smith, Rene Davis (Director of Residential Life), a faculty member, three students and the South Hadley Chief of Police. Maydew has charged the SGA to select the student to serve on the search committee.
“The Director of the Public Safety Department reports to me so I have the responsibility for making the decision on whom to hire,” said Maydew. According to Lauren Turner, Director of Human Resources, who is also staffing the search committee, the Public Safety Director is responsible for all the administrative planning, budgeting, staffing and communication within the department and externally with other public safety departments.
“We want a director who has solid experience and familiarity with higher education and community policing—someone who’s got a solid reputation and history of success,” said Turner.
Maydew stressed that the committee should remain small. “Keeping the committee relatively small makes scheduling easier and the process itself more efficient,” she said.
Public Safety Department officers and staff were not included in the search committee. “Generally, it is not advisable to include the staff member of the department [for which the search is conducted]. It’s like employees hiring their boss,” said Turner.
But both Maydew and Turner said that the Public Safety Department, as well as other members of the community, will have a say in the decision. “Staff in the Public Safety Department will have an opportunity to interview the finalists and share their views with me,” said Maydew.
“We are in the process of writing the position description,” said Turner. Although there are no firm deadlines, according to Maydew, she hopes to convene as a committee before the December break.
Associate Director Barbara Arrighi will assume the interim director position in January. Though she has been shadowing Ominsky to prepare for the role, she says the work of associate director also involves budgeting and running daily security operations at the College.
“I've been doing a lot of it already. I’ve worked with him for many years, so I know a lot of what he does,” she said. “We work very close together.”
Plans to move other staff have not yet been formalized, though Lieutenant Bryan Roman will take over Arrighi’s responsibilities with Sergeant Josh Dufresne’s assistance. All new positions will be held on a temporary basis until the new director accepts the position. Arrighi said that several command staff meetings were planned for this week to discuss interim promotions.
“The Director of the Public Safety Department reports to me so I have the responsibility for making the decision on whom to hire,” said Maydew. According to Lauren Turner, Director of Human Resources, who is also staffing the search committee, the Public Safety Director is responsible for all the administrative planning, budgeting, staffing and communication within the department and externally with other public safety departments.
“We want a director who has solid experience and familiarity with higher education and community policing—someone who’s got a solid reputation and history of success,” said Turner.
Maydew stressed that the committee should remain small. “Keeping the committee relatively small makes scheduling easier and the process itself more efficient,” she said.
Public Safety Department officers and staff were not included in the search committee. “Generally, it is not advisable to include the staff member of the department [for which the search is conducted]. It’s like employees hiring their boss,” said Turner.
But both Maydew and Turner said that the Public Safety Department, as well as other members of the community, will have a say in the decision. “Staff in the Public Safety Department will have an opportunity to interview the finalists and share their views with me,” said Maydew.
“We are in the process of writing the position description,” said Turner. Although there are no firm deadlines, according to Maydew, she hopes to convene as a committee before the December break.
Associate Director Barbara Arrighi will assume the interim director position in January. Though she has been shadowing Ominsky to prepare for the role, she says the work of associate director also involves budgeting and running daily security operations at the College.
“I've been doing a lot of it already. I’ve worked with him for many years, so I know a lot of what he does,” she said. “We work very close together.”
Plans to move other staff have not yet been formalized, though Lieutenant Bryan Roman will take over Arrighi’s responsibilities with Sergeant Josh Dufresne’s assistance. All new positions will be held on a temporary basis until the new director accepts the position. Arrighi said that several command staff meetings were planned for this week to discuss interim promotions.