As a former reporter, I can say that you can’t fit every fact into a news story. A letter to the editor in the June 9 edition of the CVN titled “Vote reconsideration request may be violation,” is an example of the erroneous conclusions one can come to by relying solely on the interpretation of a news story. The writer’s interpretation of the Haines charter is incorrect except for the fact that the borough manager and clerk are borough officers who serve at the pleasure of the assembly. The writer is incorrect to assert that the manager and clerk only advise the assembly when it is gathered. Assembly members separately routinely meet with the Mayor, the clerk and the manager to discuss issues of concern, to touch base on things they hear in the community and want these individuals to know, or to voice displeasure over some action taken by any one of them.
It’s a wildly inaccurate assertion that the interaction between these individuals occurs solely at assembly meetings. Assembly members need to stay current on the administration of borough business – some days more so than others. I welcome their questions and interaction because they provide great perspective in their views of how we are doing.
Annette Kreitzer, Haines Borough Manager