With little discussion, the Haines Borough Assembly unanimously voted Tuesday to censure member Tom Morphet for violating code and the borough’s contract with its union by releasing complaints about the Haines Police Department he had compiled from members of the public. Morphet submitted the complaints to interim manager Brad Ryan in April, then released them to reporters a week […]
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Posted inNews
Borough Digest
Maidy named to open seat on assembly The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday appointed resident Sean Maidy to an open assembly seat after members questioned the preferred candidate’s availability. Assembly members said last week that James Hart was their preferred applicant to take Margaret Friedenauer’s open seat until the October municipal election. Hart was unable to call in […]
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Borough Digest
26 Mile repeater needs replacing Manager Mark Earnest informed the Haines Borough Assembly last week that a 26 Mile repeater was “down, and it appears to be down for the count.” “This is a shared-use facility,” Earnest said. “The Klehini volunteer fire department relies on it extensively, as well as the Alaska State Troopers and the State (Department of […]
Posted inNews
Assembly seeks advice on conflict code change
The Haines Borough Assembly directed the manager and borough attorney June 13 to consider revision of code that bars the borough from contracting with Roger Schnabel’s businesses. A May 30 memo from the borough attorney to the assembly stated the borough could not contract with Southeast Roadbuilders because it is owned by the brother of manager Debra Schnabel. […]
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Assembly passes $18 million budget
The Haines Borough Assembly unanimously approved a $17.8 million budget Tuesday, including funding $95,000 for a local economic development corporation, hiring a fifth police officer and covering increased costs of staff health insurance. Due to rising costs in borough employee health insurance, the assembly increased the borough’s contribution for employees on the borough’s “blue family plan.” On […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Recall election to be held on August 15
A special election to recall Haines Borough Assembly members Heather Lende, Tresham Gregg and Tom Morphet is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 15. Borough clerk Julie Cozzi received the recall petitions June 6 and three days later certified that each document had the signatures of at least 258 registered Haines voters. Cozzi submitted the certified petitions to the […]
Posted inNews, Inside CVN
Clayton buys CVN
The Chilkat Valley News has a new owner this week, as Tom Morphet passed the torch to reporter Kyle Clayton. Morphet has owned the CVN for five years. Before buying the paper, he worked at it 22 years as a reporter, editor and manager. Morphet’s ownership of the newspaper became contentious in August when he […]
Posted inNews
Recall organizers turn in signatures
The leaders behind a recall effort aimed at ousting three Haines Borough Assembly members turned in signatures required to move ahead with the process. Borough clerk Julie Cozzi received the signatures Tuesday afternoon and has 10 days to certify that each signer is registered to vote in the borough. Recall sponsor Don Turner Jr. said he collected […]
Posted inNews
Lawyer cites family conflict for Schnabel
An hour before the Haines Borough Assembly was set to discuss a manager contract for Debra Schnabel, the assembly received a memo from its attorney saying that contractor Roger Schnabel, Debra’s brother, would be prohibited from contracting with the borough if she holds the position. Roger Schnabel’s Southeast Roadbuilders is one of the largest contracting firms in town […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Rules on conflicts-of-interest differ among Southeast towns
The Petersburg and Wrangell borough codes do not prohibit family members of public officers from contracting with their boroughs. Wrangell Borough Clerk Kim Lane said their borough manager’s son is an electrical contractor in town and he has contracted with the borough. Lane said not allowing him to do so would be discriminatory. “In a […]