The Haines Borough Assembly voted Tuesday evening to fire borough manager Debra Schnabel without cause, with Mayor Jan Hill breaking a 3-3 tie vote. Assembly member Jerry Lapp, Stephanie Scott and Zephyr Sincerny were opposed to the motion to fire Schnabel while members Paul Rogers, Brenda Josephson, Gabe Thomas and Jan Hill voted in support. The assembly met in executive session with its attorney for more than […]
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Posted inNews
Haines poised to receive $2 million in COVID-19 relief
At an ad hoc meeting on Monday, Haines Borough Assembly members identified five potential spending categories for the $4 million in CARES Act funding the borough is scheduled to receive—emergency and medical response, direct support for individuals, grants for small businesses, coronavirus testing and food security. On March 27, the U.S. Congress passed the CARES Act, including […]
Posted inNews
Assembly discusses $400K shortfall
There’s still a $400,000 hole in the proposed Haines Borough budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The deficit was created by the loss of state support for school bond debt. At a budget meeting on Monday, assembly members discussed options for addressing the shortfall. In past years, the state typically paid for 70% of municipal school bond […]
Posted inNews
Assembly suspends manager with pay
The Haines Borough Assembly voted 4-2 at its regular meeting Tuesday to suspend borough manager Debra Schnabel with pay. The assembly will hold an executive session and will meet with the borough attorney to consider “the necessary steps to terminate the manager without cause.” Assembly members Paul Rogers, Brenda Josephson, Gabe Thomas and Jerry Lapp were in favor while members Stephanie Scott and […]
Posted inNews
Assembly cuts funding for HEDC, library and museum
On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly amended the working draft of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year to reflect a 50% reduction in sales tax revenue. To offset the reduction, the draft includes several cuts including an anticipated one-month library closure in the fall or winter; a year-long closure of the museum to the public; elimination […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Assembly conspired to fire Schnabel
Ah! I now see the simplicity of the borough assembly’s recent appointment of Jerry Lapp! It’s so you have the numbers to oust our manager. I can think of no one who has the grit, enthusiasm, intelligence and, perhaps more importantly, the local commitment, knowledge and contacts than Debra Schnabel. Your GROD (Get Rid Of Debra) clique […]
Posted inNews
Assembly to consider suspending manager with aim to fire
On Monday, May 11 assembly member Paul Rogers asked borough manager Debra Schnabel to resign and said that if she declines to step down, he will make a motion to begin the process of firing her at Tuesday’s regular meeting. Rogers confirmed to the CVN Tuesday morning that he intends to introduce a motion to suspend borough […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly approves $3,000 chamber request
The Haines Borough Assembly unanimously approved at its Tuesday meeting the Haines Chamber of Commerce’s request for $3,000 and declined to discuss a $20,000 request from the Alaska Avalanche Information Center. Prior to the meeting, both organizations had submitted funding requests for assembly consideration. The chamber has lost revenue with the loss of its pull-tab operation due […]
Posted inNews
Mayor Hill recommended for a temporary raise
Haines Borough assembly member Jerry Lapp suggested during Tuesday’s regular meeting that Mayor Jan Hill be given a $500 per month raise. Lapp said Hill deserved the raise because of the extra work she’s been doing during the COVID-19 emergency, and that it should be in effect until the borough’s emergency declaration ends. Because the suggested raise was not on […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Haines assembly issues ‘shelter in place’ order
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly passed a series of resolutions and ordinances to mitigate the threat COVID-19 poses for public health and the local economy. The measures include issuing a “shelter in place” order, requiring that people entering the community quarantine for 14 days, extending last week’s emergency declaration and appropriating emergency funds […]