Box 12, Folder 27, Document 2

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Box 12, Folder 27, Document 2

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CITY HALL ATLANTA, GA. 30303

Tel. 522-4463 Area Code 404

IVAN ALLEN, JR., MAYOR

R. EARL LANDERS, Administrative Assistant
MRS, ANN M. MOSES, Executive Secretary
DAN E. SWEAT, JR., Director of Governmental Liaison

: August 17, 1967
MEMORANDUM
TO: Carl Sutherland
FROM: Dan Sweat '.2*

SUBJECT: Model Cities Personnel Requirements

This is to request that some advance consideration be given to the
problem of recruiting well qualified personnel to administer the
City's Model City Program if and when such program is funded by the
Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. As you know,

an application for such a grant was prepared in the early part of the
year by the City Planning Department with assistance from several
other city departments and outside agencies and submitted to HUD

in February. We have been expecting to receive notification of
approval of our grant since the end of June, however, with the Detroit
riots, etc, the date on which these grants will be announced is very
difficult to predict. The latest word I have from sources in Washington
is that the announcement of these grants may come within the next two
weeks, I am reasonably confident that Atlanta will be among the first
few cities to receive such a grant.

The planning period allowed by HUD under the Model Cities Program

is limited to one year. In other words, the plan for this tremendous
program must be completed within one year from the time the grant is
awarded or at least from the time the actual funds are received,

All of this is to point out the difficulty with which we are faced. We
must secure a staff of competent planners and administrators at what
amounts to a moments notice, yet we can't be sure when that moment will
come. It seems clear, however, that the only way we can be prepared to
move into this program within a reasonable time after the grant is
MEMORANDUM
Page 2 ;
August 17, 1967

announced is to have the personnel which will be required to fill

the top few positions in this program already recruited, or at least

have a number of people who are qualified and interested in filling

these positions, Based on the difficulty that the Planning Department
experienced in filling their five new high-level planning positions,

I am convinced that we must start an intensive recruitment campaign
immediately. I recognize, however, that there are certain legal steps
that must be taken before any positions can be actually filled, namely,
the approval of such positions and the salaries by the Personnel Board
and the Board of Aldermen and the appropriation of sufficient funds by
the Board of Aldermen to cover these salaries. In spite of the fact
. that these steps cannot be taken prior to the awarding of the grant funds
we should be able to begin an informal recruitment effort immediately.

In order to fill their five positions the Planning Department had to
resort to a nation wide advertising campaign and, in addition, had to pay
the transportation costs of bringing applicants to Atlanta for a personal
interview. This type of effort may very well be necessary in this

Model Cities Program.

I have attached a listing of proposed positions, showing proposed monthly
salary rates and duration of employment, which was used in preparing our
application for grant funds. The positions which should be given top priority
for recruitment are the first four positions listed. I have also attached

a copy of the job description for the Project Director which was prepared

by personnel of your department. In addition, I have enclosed several

resumes which I have received since this application was submitted, I
understand that the Planning Department may also have a list of applicants
which might be qualified for one of these positions.

I would suggest that all of these Model City positions be included within

the classified service under the Civil Service laws of the City. Since the
project staff will be attached to the Mayor's office, the Mayor would act

as the appointing authority. His selections would be based upon the
recommendations of a selection team comprised of Earl Landers, Administrative
Assistant to the Mayor, Dan Sweat, Director of Governmental Liaison and
Collier Gladin, Planning Director. In accordance with the Civil Service

. laws this selection team would recommend from the top three candidates on a
register established by the Personnel Department, .

Again, I wish to point out the urgency of this situation and to urge that
some action be taken immediately to line up personnel for these positions.
This office is available to assist your department in implementation of
this request if you so desire,

DS/ jp

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