Andrew Conrad will step down as borough planner after less than a year on the job. Conrad’s last day will be March 15.
Conrad, reached by phone on Wednesday, declined to comment about his reasons for leaving. Borough manager Annette Kreitzer said Conrad is working to make the transition to a new planner as smooth as possible.
Conrad started working at the borough in June. In previous interviews with CVN and in public comments, Conrad emphasized that he was focused on standardizing permitting processes and expectations in the borough, and organizing information.
The planner’s salary was listed as $61,379 in the FY 2024 budget.
Conrad’s resignation comes shortly after public facilities director Ed Coffland announced he would resign. The borough assembly decided in late 2023 not to renew the contract for its tax assessor. The borough is recruiting for an assistant harbormaster as well.
Kreitzer said in an email that she was meeting internally to decide how to fill Conrad’s position, which she pointed out included distinct responsibilities of planning, permitting and compliance.
Kreitzer said she valued Conrad’s experience, but pushed back against resident Don Turner’s assertion at a Tuesday assembly meeting that the planners aren’t paid enough. She said the bigger issue was Haines residents treating planners disrespectfully.
“The level of disrespect that these residents have shown is unacceptable and when I become aware of it again, in the future, it will be something that I speak out on. I’m not talking about simple disagreements, I’m talking about personal insults and attempts to direct the Planner in his job,” she wrote in an email.