By Jessica Edwards
The Haines Borough Assembly postponed a decision on selling the primary
school building,discussed the future of the former elementary school, and chose Greg Brask
to replace Kathleen Menke on the borough planning commission uesday. Mayor Fred Shields
removed Menke from the commission last week.
The assembly Tuesday unanimously approved Shields’choice of Brask,
a former planning commissioner, to complete
Menke’s term, which expires in the fall.
With two of six assembly members absent, Shields moved to postpone a
decision on the primary school to a fourth public hearing March 11. Assembly member Doug
Olerud was absent and was excused by the assembly. Norm Smith, absent at meetings Jan. 15,
Feb. 12, and Feb. 26, was not excused.
The assembly heard public comments from the Salvation Army’s
Captain Kevin Bottjen and from Marnie Hartman on behalf of an ad-hoc wellness group about
their proposals for the former elementary school building.
Bottjen said his group would use the building for a multipurpose
community center on the model of Salvation Army Red Shield centers. In response to a
question from Shields, he proposed to offset maintenance and utility costs incurred by
taking over the large building by selling the church’s Union Street property,
eliminating central heating and obtaining grants.
Hartman reiterated her group’s belief that a wellness center was a
community need. She said planning was still in initial stages and didn’t yet consider
operating costs, but said the wellness center would make only partial use of the school
and that her group was open to collaboration with others.
John Winge said the property should be sold. "I would like to see
it sold by the borough and get the buildings in the center of town on the tax rolls. I
think that would benefit the borough most in the long run."
Daymond Hoffman said he endorsed the recommendation of some planning
commission members that a plan be developed for the entire area. He said most larger
cities had a central place for residents.
Venables said there was no rush to decide and recommended postponing a
decision until after the borough budget was complete. The assembly directed Venables to
continue working with interested parties.
Shields removed Menke in a letter dated Feb. 20. Commissioners,
according to borough charter, serve at the pleasure of the mayor. Brask served previously
on the planning commission and had expressed interest in returning.
When asked by Lapham where Brask stood on the issues – if Brask
voted "left or right," Shields replied, "Right down the middle."
Shields declined to comment to the CVN on his decision to remove Menke.
Menke said although Shields had not explained his reasons to her, she
felt she had been removed for her outspoken manner, controversial politics and
presentation, and for taking an approach to issues that made some uncomfortable.
"Community volunteers should not feel bullied into behaving in a
certain manner or approaching their duties in a certain way by any one person or the
agendas of a few. My feeling is that it has been better for me to have been my own person
for two and a half years on the commission, than to have become a puppet on a
someone’s string for three," Menke said.
At the end of the Feb. 14 planning commission meeting that lasted more
than three hours, members Jack Smith and Harriet Brouillette stated concerns that members
were talking without being recognized by the chair and were behaving unprofessionally.
"I got frustrated after that last meeting," Smith said, declining further
comment.
Brouillette told KHNS that Menke’s willingness to speak out gave
her the confidence to speak with conviction.
Lee Heinmiller, commission chair, said Menke was "committed to
what she was saying," and she raised important issues to the commission. He also said
she "painted herself in a corner by her behavior at public forum."
He said he had finally told Menke to "shut up" during the
meeting when she refused to listen to other commissioners during discussion, and said he
received a "yeah, but…" response.
Heinmiller said Menke’s actions at last week’s meeting
bespoke a trend. "She’s done this a fair amount," he said, adding that
Menke addressed her tendency to speak out of turn when frustrated in an apology letter to
commissioners, the mayor, staff, and assembly members after the Feb. 14 meeting.
"I have personality issues that need work," Menke said this
week. "But I’m not the only person in the borough who does, and I’m not the
only one in public office who does."
"If the issues were (Shields) being concerned about how the
meetings were being conducted, then the appropriate reaction would have been to send a
letter to all (commissioners) outlining his concerns and asking for specific
changes."
Shields has considered removing Menke from the commission previously.
Menke said Shields has told her more than once that she was raising too many issues and
asking too many questions.
She said Shields was "very sensitive to politics."
