By Sharon Turco
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The University of Cincinnati presidential search committee will make all decisions about choosing a new president in public, according to an agreement between the university and The Cincinnati Enquirer.

The agreement allows the 13-member Presidential Search Committee to conduct private meetings, as long as there are no deliberations, discussions or decisions made.

The deal comes after the Enquirer took the university to Hamilton County Common Pleas Court last month, arguing that the search for a successor to Joseph Steger must be done in public.

John C. Murdock, the newspaper's attorney, and Mark Stepaniak, the university's attorney, told Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert P. Ruehlmanon Friday they had come to an agreement, which the judge is expected to sign next week.

As part of the agreement, Ruehlman will retain jurisdiction until a new president is selected.

Both sides said they were happy with the agreement.

"The right of the public to have access as required by the Sunshine Law to the working of the presidential search committee has been secured," Murdock said. "We arrived at a protocol that takes into account the concerns of the Enquirer and allows the search committee to go forward," he added.

Stepaniak said the agreement just clarifies the Open Meetings Act, and does not expand it.

Jeffrey Wyler, search committee chairman, said he's ready to move forward.

"The university's intention has always been directed toward conducting this search in the best interests of the public, the university and the candidates for this important position," Wyler said in a prepared statement.

Ruehlman stopped a private meeting the presidential search committee had planned for Jan. 15 to hear presentations from several recruiting companies. The judge then ordered the two sides to talk and return to court Friday. The meeting has been rescheduled for next week.

E-mail sturco@enquirer.com