Some Bremerton City Council members are balking at Mayor Patty Lent’s selection for financial services director, saying she does not meet the minimum requirements for the job.

At a Wednesday City Council study session, Councilmen Cecil McConnell and Will Maupin said Kitsap County Treasurer Barbara Stephenson’s lack of a bachelor’s degree disqualifies her as a financial services director, according to the city’s job description for the post.

The City Council deferred the appointment of Stephenson on Jan. 6 because members wanted more information and time to review her qualifications.

Stephenson was sought by Lent in mid-December before former budget chief Andy Parks was fired on New Year’s Day. Her candidacy was announced Jan. 5 and her confirmation was scheduled, but council members said they did not know enough about Stephenson, a twice-elected county treasurer.

Lent told the council that as an experienced elected officer, Stephenson is sufficiency qualified to be Bremerton’s finance director. But, as Maupin and McConnell pointed out, the city’s job description calls for a B.A. in public administration, business or a related field, in addition to seven years of pertinent administrative experience.

Lent said at the meeting that Stephenson is certified by the American Institute of Banking. According to her biography, supplied by the mayor’s office, Stephenson attended Bellevue Community College, Northwest Intermediate Banking School at Lewis and Clark College and Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.

In addition to her work as county treasurer, she was an assistant vice president and branch manager at Security Pacific Bank and executive director of United Way of Kitsap County.

But, despite her experience in administration and finance, McConnell said her resume items don’t add up to a bachelor’s degree.

“I just can’t get past it,” he said.

While Maupin doesn’t know whether he will support Stephenson’s hire, he said that her lack of a bachelor’s degree would have caused her resume to be screened out had she applied with human resources for the job.

Meanwhile, five council members voiced their support for Stephenson’s appointment, saying that her track record in management and budget writing make her a qualified candidate.

“I think she’s a winner and I think she would be a great asset to the city,” Councilman Greg Wheeler said.

Dianne Robinson, Jim McDonald, Carol Arends and Adam Brockus also said they approved of Stephenson.

Stephenson made herself available to speak with council members in the city council office on Jan. 8. Wheeler, McDonald, Robinson, Maupin, McConnell, and Council President Nick Wofford met with her that day, Maupin said.

Stephenson was home with the flu and did not attend Wednesday’s study session. When reached at home, she declined to comment on her biography.

McConnell said search committees composed of department heads and at least one councilmember typically interview top candidates and help make hiring decisions.

Maupin added that the lack of a more deliberative process makes the confirmation decision more difficult. Maupin lost the mayor’s race to Lent by 69 votes.

In addition to determining Stephenson’s qualifications to head the city’s financial services department, the council must also approve her salary. The proposed starting salary is set at almost $123,000 – less than Parks’ salary of more than $132,000 at the post, according to the city’s Web site. But it will be an increase for Stephenson, who is paid just less than $108,000 as county treasurer, according to the county’s Web site.

Stephenson’s confirmation is scheduled to take place Jan. 20. Meanwhile, Finance Officer Cathy Johnson is serving as the interim financial director.