A five-person hiring committee has recommended the Haines Borough hire Darsie Culbeck as the new Community and Economic Development Director.

Mayor Stephanie Scott said the committee recommended 4-1 to hire Culbeck, who was competing for the job against only one other candidate.

Manager David Sosa refused to comment on the recommendation Tuesday, but said he would issue a press release within “the next 48 hours.” A call for comment Wednesday was not returned.

Sosa, chief fiscal officer Jila Stuart, assembly member Diana Lapham and residents Doug Olerud and Fred Gray served as the hiring committee.

The borough received three applications for the position. One candidate, Paul Gorte of Joliet, Ill., had 14 years of experience working as a community development director and 10 years working as an economic development director for various municipalities and private companies.

However, Gorte dropped out of the running before they could interview him, hiring committee member Olerud said.

 “We did look at him, but before we were able to interview him, he notified us he would be taking another position and pulling out of the hunt,” Olerud said.

The committee discussed re-opening the application period to see if it could get more candidates, but decided against it, Olerud said. “That was an option, whether or not we wanted to open it up, but obviously we didn’t take that.”

In addition to Culbeck, the committee also interviewed Earl Rinio of Sparta, Tenn.

According to his application, Rinio has started or owned three companies and has worked in both the public and private sectors. Rinio’s experience includes work as a construction engineer and contract administrator for the Alaska Department of Education and a capital projects accountant for the Alaska Department of Transportation.

Culbeck largely created the job he is recommended for. While working as executive assistant to the borough manager in January, he submitted a proposal to the borough’s personnel committee asking for a change in job title and responsibilities, including an increased supervisory role over the pool and parks and recreation departments.

Culbeck’s draft proposal would have switched his title to community and economic development director.

Culbeck’s resume outlines his work as executive assistant to the manager from 2012 to 2014 and his work as a special projects consultant for the borough from 2011 to 2012. Culbeck also co-founded Alaska Mountain Guides and worked for the company from 1992 to 2008.

He holds a degree from Western Washington University in environmental science with an emphasis in social assessment, policy and land use planning.

Culbeck has worked seasonally as camp manager for Constantine Metal Resources since 2009.  

The community and economic development director’s starting annual salary is $62,000 and includes medical benefits, Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) retirement, leave and paid holidays.

The community and economic development director will supervise the tourism department, as well as the pool, parks and recreation, and community youth development programs. 

Because it is a director-level position, the recommendation to hire Culbeck must be confirmed by the assembly, said Mayor Scott.

The recommendation will come before the assembly Sept. 9, she said.

Scott said she doesn’t think it’s a conflict of interest to have a former Constantine Metal Resources employee work as community and economic development director for the borough.

“It may create a perception (of conflict of interest), but I don’t have that perception. I feel like it’s more of an advantage to the borough that we can have a stronger and better understanding of what is going on up there. That’s how I see it,” she said.

“(Culbeck) is so accessible and so transparent. He doesn’t hold things close to his chest. You get what you see,” Scott added.