Former Haines Borough manager Mark Earnest is performing consulting services for the borough on an as-needed basis, said interim manager Julie Cozzi.
Cozzi said she is engaged in an “oral agreement” with Earnest to do some work for the borough on a couple of issues, including a personnel code ordinance and composition of the borough’s state and federal legislative priorities.
The agreement didn’t stipulate a fee for the work, Cozzi said. Earnest hasn’t billed the borough yet, and Cozzi said she isn’t sure if he intends to.
“I’m not saying he won’t (bill the borough), but we don’t have a contract in place. We have an oral agreement, I guess, but it doesn’t involve a price or anything,” she said.
Earnest offered to perform the work, she added.
Cozzi said she in the process of drafting a contract with Earnest in case future work is required, though she hasn’t yet worked out what Earnest would be paid.
Cozzi said she wanted to “take advantage of (Earnest’s) vast experience and expertise,” particularly on the personnel code ordinance, which Earnest had been working on prior to his departure.
“Because of (Earnest’s) experience with union agreements, many years of work with personnel systems, and knowledge of borough code, he was the logical one to help me with the initial draft. I expect the cost to be minimal and certainly less than paying the attorney to do the initial draft,” she said.
The draft is being reviewed by the finance department and will be reviewed by the personnel committee before it comes before the assembly.
Earnest obtained a borough business license before he left his job as manager, and Cozzi said she understands Earnest intends to offer consulting services to various Alaskan municipalities on how to navigate state and federal agencies.