Haines Borough Manager David Sosa will not pursue a proposed policy aimed at discouraging the borough from entering into nondisclosure agreements with departing employees who have a history of improper behavior. Sosa said existing Alaska law already gives employers the right to disclose information about employee performance. Former assembly member Debra Schnabel submitted the policy […]
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Candidate volunteers for top job
A Haines retiree has volunteered to perform the duties of a community and economic development director for free. Joe Poor, a former state and tribal employee who once served as executive director of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, proposed to work as a volunteer. “My friends and neighbors’ most consistent complaint about our community is […]
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Assembly holds ground on vet village tax exemption vote
Despite appeals from audience members and the Haines Assisted Living community manager, Haines Borough Assembly members declined to reconsider votes made last week to postpone consideration of a property tax exemption for the Soboleff-McRae Veterans Village. About a half-dozen residents turned out at Tuesday’s meeting to ask assembly members to reconsider their vote to postpone an ordinance […]
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Charter rule blocks Schnabel from job
Former Haines Borough Assembly member Debra Schnabel applied for the municipality’s community and economic development director position this week, but code and charter will likely prevent her from being hired. Schnabel applied for the job Tuesday, and acknowledged in her cover letter that borough code currently prohibits her hire. According to code, for one year after an assembly member […]
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Foes dominate Juneau Road hearing
Opponents of the East Side Lynn Canal Highway, also known as the Juneau Road, outnumbered the project’s advocates five to one at last week’s Department of Transportation public hearing on the proposed 50-mile road from Juneau to the Katzehin River. DOT sent 15 employees, consultants and independent contractors to the meeting, plus two Federal Highway Administration employees. […]
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Chief Musser responds to information concerns
Haines Borough Police Chief Bill Musser explained some of his policies on release of information at last week’s Public Safety Commission meeting after committee and audience members urged increased communication between the department and the public. Recent friction between Musser and the media over release of information brought the issue to a head at the […]
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Ballot questions on school upgrades, 40 percent
Four ballot questions will be considered by voters Tuesday, the first involving an election policy and the subsequent three on whether to bond for three Haines Borough School capital improvement projects. Proposition 1 would abolish the “40-percent rule” requiring candidates to receive at least 40 percent of the vote to be seated. Propositions 2-4 are bond measures […]
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Home rifle range owner wins appeal
The Haines Borough Assembly decided Tuesday a Beach Road man can keep the personal shooting range he’s maintained at his residence for 28 years. The assembly voted unanimously to reverse manager David Sosa’s order for Gary Keller to stop using his backyard shooting range. Though discharging firearms is prohibited in the townsite, Keller received a […]
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Townsite ATV park heads to committee
Haines Borough Assembly member George Campbell’s dream of creating a motorized recreation area near town is still alive, and now is going to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Though the Planning Commission slammed the idea and the assembly has heard virtually no public support for a motorized recreation area in the townsite, Campbell […]
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Planners approve 3 helipads at 10 Mile
The Haines Borough Planning Commission last week approved a conditional use permit for the installation of three helipads at 10 Mile Haines Highway, despite the developer’s refusal to provide details on plans for the landing site. The commission voted 5-2 to approve John Floreske’s permit. Commissioners Heather Lende and Lee Heinmiller were opposed. When asked what he […]