I’m hoping the Haines Borough Assembly will rectify a shoddy, demonstrably flawed borough manager selection process by facilitating the coming public “reception” with the finalists for a paltry one-hour. Specifically, the following would be helpful in showing good faith: 1. Change the event to a forum (instead of a reception); trivializing government business wastes taxpayers’ investment as well as citizens’ participation. 2. Hand out copies of completed […]
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Borough to help fund bear monitor
Following another rough season of tense human-bear interactions along the Chilkoot River corridor, the Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday voted to put $14,000 toward hiring a seasonal bear monitor to patrol the area from June through September. The Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation will also contribute $2,000 and is seeking additional funds through its members to fund the […]
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Few changes for draft borough budget
After several committee meetings and hours of discussion, it doesn’t seem like Haines Borough Assembly members will be proposing many changes to interim manager Brad Ryan’s draft $12 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Assembly members have mainly used the hours-long sessions as venues for sounding off on previously stated opinions, asking questions of department heads […]
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Thomas claims role in saving sewer funds
The Haines Borough Assembly received an update from lobbyist Bill Thomas last week, and interim manager Brad Ryan has included funding for the position in the upcoming year’s budget. But whether Thomas’s $45,000 presence in Juneau saw any real return for the municipality is still a matter for debate. The main gist of Thomas’s nearly half-hour update was, “There’s […]
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Borough manager candidates narrowed to 4 finalists
The Haines Borough Assembly is scheduled to bring four manager candidate finalists to town for two days of receptions and interviews May 13-14. The assembly met Tuesday and whittled down the pool from the 10 semi-finalists selected by executive search firm Brimeyer Fursman. Members worked from a packet of information compiled by the search firm, including the […]
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Manager finalist made crude Facebook posts
The Haines Borough Assembly met as a committee-of-the-whole Tuesday to select manager finalists from a pool of 10 candidates picked by hired headhunting firm Brimeyer Fursman, but it’s not clear the firm’s research included checking social media. The assembly chose to bring four candidates to Haines for in-person interviews, including Dennis Koenig, city administrator for La Jara, […]
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Budget discussion: Police seek fifth officer
The Haines Borough Assembly this week began delving into the nitty-gritty of interim manager Brad Ryan’s draft budget for the upcoming fiscal year, debating whether to fund a fifth police officer position and if $32,500 for local nonprofits should be reduced or eliminated from the spending plan. Ryan’s budget allows for a four-member force – one chief […]
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Assembly OKs plan for harbor on 4-2 vote
Reflecting a continued division on the topic, the Haines Borough Assembly this week voted 4-2 to approve the Small Boat Harbor expansion project’s 95 percent design documents. The project includes unofficial plans to demolish Lookout Park and eventually rebuild it on the southeast corner of a planned parking lot. Members Tresham Gregg and George Campbell were opposed. […]
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Ryan won’t seek permanent manager job
Despite rave performance reviews from the Haines Borough Assembly last week, interim manager Brad Ryan on Monday said he would not be applying for the permanent manager position. Ryan, who was hired as public facilities director in September, said his primary reason for deciding not to go for the permanent job was the hours. “I think my […]
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Assembly OK with beer and wine license
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday voted unanimously to issue a statement of non-objection to the Pilot Light Restaurant’s state application for a beer and wine license. The Pilot Light, which is opening in Fort Seward where Mosey’s was formerly housed, applied to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for the public convenience license, which would allow it […]