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POR 2026-170 · Agenda item attachment · Sep 14 2026
That the City Solicitor engage the services of a suitable law firm, in consultation with the City’s Chief People Officer and with approval of the City Solicitor, to negotiate an employment contract with Paula M. Crane on behalf of the City Council.
POR 2026-170
FIRST IN COUNCIL
September 14, 2026
City of Cambridge
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
WHEREAS:
This Policy Order serves as a brief of the process to hire the City Clerk position to
date; and
WHEREAS:
This process began in the 2024-2025 City Council term, following the retirement of
Clerk Diane P. LeBlanc, and the appointment of Paula M. Crane as Interim City
Clerk, effective June 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS:
On June 30, 2025, the Council voted to establish a preliminary screening committee
and formally begin a search for a permanent City Clerk; and
WHEREAS:
The 2025 City Clerk Preliminary Screening Committee met on several occasions and
held a series of first and second round interviews in Executive Session; and
WHEREAS:
After completing these interviews, the Committee was unable to identify two finalist
candidates to go before the full Council for a final interview; and
WHEREAS:
As a result, the process was suspended at the end of the term, and Paula M. Crane’s
appointment as Interim City Clerk was extended for an additional six months, as
detailed in a communication from then-Mayor Simmons to the Council; and
WHEREAS:
On January 22, 2026, Mayor Siddiqui appointed the 2026 City Clerk Preliminary
Screening Committee, which again met over several months to review applicants,
conduct interviews, and work with the city’s Human Resources department to recruit
a strong pool of finalists to present to the Council; and
WHEREAS:
Despite these efforts, several highly qualified applicants withdrew from
consideration, and the process was again suspended; and
WHEREAS:
On May 18, 2026, Paula M. Crane’s Interim appointment was extended once more to
allow the Committee time to evaluate next steps; and
WHEREAS:
On July 28, 2026, the Preliminary Screening Committee met to discuss the process to
date and next steps, including reposting the position; and
WHEREAS:
Following this discussion, Mayor Siddiqui was informed that Paula M. Crane was
now interested in the position after not applying previously; and
WHEREAS:
The Sponsors of this Order, who also served as members of the Preliminary
Screening Committee, have determined that appointing Paula M. Crane as City Clerk
is the most effective and appropriate course of action; now therefore be it
ORDERED:
That the City Council appoint Paula Crane to the office of City Clerk; and be it
further
ORDERED:
That the City Solicitor engage the services of a suitable law firm, in consultation with
the City’s Chief People Officer and with approval of the City Solicitor, to negotiate
an employment contract with Paula M. Crane on behalf of the City Council, and be it
further
ORDERED:
That the full City Council discuss the terms of the employment contract in a future
Executive Session, with final approval of terms and appointment to occur at a
subsequent future open meeting of the City Council.
A true copy;
ATTEST:-
Paula M. Crane,
Interim City Clerk
City of Cambridge
That the City Solicitor engage the services of a suitable law firm, in consultation with the City’s Chief
People Officer and with approval of the City Solicitor, to negotiate an employment contract with Paula M.
Crane on behalf of the City Council.