For assembly members, sitting around at meetings won’t be getting any easier. Members on Tuesday narrowly struck $2,300 from next year’s borough budget for new chairs around the dais. The assembly split 3-3 on the budget item, with Mayor Stephanie Scott breaking the tie with her vote to nix them. Members Steve Vick, Debra Schnabel and Joanne Waterman voted against the chairs; assembly […]
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Posted inNews
Replacing police chief on Tuesday agenda
The Haines Borough Personnel Committee will meet 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss how to deal with police department staff organization in the wake of former Police Chief Gary Lowe’s recent resignation from his position. Manager Mark Earnest said the committee will likely discuss several points, including whether and how to move forward with a job announcement for the position. […]
Posted inNews
Lowe gets $53K in payout, paid leave
Haines Borough Police Chief Gary Lowe will receive three months of paid leave plus a $36,000 payout as part of a “negotiated separation agreement” with the Haines Borough. The agreement, signed April 8 and released Tuesday, was negotiated between manager Mark Earnest, Lowe and attorney Brooks Chandler. It allows Lowe to remain on paid leave until June 17, when […]
Posted inNews
Assembly hears budget concerns
The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday discussed potential ways to keep the pool open, including possibly raising fees or implementing a membership system. The assembly discussed the matter during its second public budget workshop. Manager Mark Earnest is recommending the pool be closed for three months in the summer to save about $35,000 in the budget. During the Tuesday meeting, […]
Posted inNews
Library addition stirs discussion
The Haines Borough Public Library Board is pursuing plans to construct a 600-square-foot addition to the library, but whether borough funds will be used to design the project is under debate. Library board chair Anne Marie Palmieri said the group has been talking about the addition for the past two years but recently approached the borough, asking […]
Posted inNews
Assembly reverses bear tour vote
After denying a former Haines bear monitor a permit to conduct small-scale bear-viewing tours along the Chilkoot River, the Haines Borough Assembly reversed its decision and voted unanimously to award the permit at its April 9 meeting. The assembly split 3-3 during its March 26 meeting on whether to issue the permit to the Great Bear Foundation, […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly approves deal for Lowe’s exit
Following 40 minutes of closed-door discussion, the Haines Borough Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a “negotiated separation agreement” with police chief Gary Lowe. Borough leaders – including assembly members, Mayor Stephanie Scott and manager Mark Earnest – this week refused to comment on the specifics of the agreement, saying those would be revealed Tuesday. Joanne Waterman called for an executive session to discuss […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Assembly ignored Lowe’s issues
What appalls me in the matter of chief Lowe is that had this assembly and manager listened to even one word of what people were saying, they could have stopped this tornado from once again disgracing this community and its police force. Gary’s career could have been saved by the assembly, had they listened to […]
Posted inNews
Assembly plans overnight trip to Skagway
Haines Borough staff and assembly members are planning an overnight trip to Skagway April 26-27 to meet with regional leaders to discuss mutual economic and transportation issues. The Skagway Borough Assembly, Juneau Borough Assembly, and Whitehorse City Council also are expected to attend the event, which was initiated by Juneau Mayor Merrill Sanford, clerk Julie Cozzi said […]
Posted inNews
Lowe put on leave; hearing planned
Haines Borough manager Mark Earnest placed police chief Gary Lowe on paid administrative leave Tuesday, making Sgt. Simon Ford acting chief. The assembly voted unanimously Tuesday night to “as soon as possible, hire a hearing officer to facilitate an internal investigation into the complaints against the police chief and his abilities to perform his duties and supervise the police […]