Haines Borough Assembly funding for local nonprofits dropped again this year, from $94,300 last year to $76,100 approved at Tuesday’s meeting. Manager David Sosa, Mayor Jan Hill and assembly members Diana Lapham, Mike Case and Ron Jackson scored 10 applications as part of the borough’s annual nonprofit funding process. The matrices used for scoring measure how the nonprofit […]
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Posted inNews
Sosa looks back on performance
Cites policy-making, staff support as legacy In an interview this week, outgoing Haines Borough manager David Sosa said his biggest accomplishments were working with staff to update policies and procedures, paying more attention to employee reviews and evaluations, and working with the assembly to identify local and legislative priorities. Sosa offered an analysis of his 19 months […]
Posted inNews, Alaska Marine Highway System
Assembly splits on ferry letter wording
By Karen Garcia Haines Borough Assembly members wrestled with words Tuesday, as some claimed a letter to the state about ferry service reductions was too timid. The letter, drafted by Marine Transportation Advisory Board chair Robert Venables and tourism director Leslie Ross, contains language about the borough’s “sincere understanding” of the state’s current fiscal situation and […]
Posted inNews, Police
Minor offenses group chosen
Haines Borough Mayor Jan Hill revealed her selections for the newly-created minor offenses committee Tuesday, choosing four members of the public from a pool of about 10 applicants. Don Turner Jr., Bill Thomas, Deborah Vogt and Mike Denker will sit on the ad-hoc committee charged with tackling the minor offenses ordinance that has vexed the assembly for the past […]
Posted inNews
Eagle preserve council tepid on Chilkat River protection
A Chilkat Indian Village proposal to pursue top-level protections for the Chilkat River received a lukewarm response from the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Advisory Council this week. Tribal council president Jones Hotch Jr. asked the council to support a resolution requesting the river be designated as an Outstanding National Resource Water, which protects waters of exceptional […]
Posted inNews, Police
Public outcry prompts minor offenses reboot
After receiving a petition signed by 650 residents, the Haines Borough Assembly voted Tuesday to nullify its Sept. 22 decision to adopt the controversial minor offenses ordinance. The group voted to let the ordinance continue its movement through the public process prior to adoption. The document will come back before the assembly on April 26, 2016. In […]
Posted inNews, Police
Citizens push petition, question minor offenses vote
Although the Haines Borough Assembly approved it two weeks ago, the controversial minor offenses ordinance is still creating a buzz around town, with opponents collecting more than 400 signatures as of Tuesday on a petition asking the assembly to reconsider its vote. Assembly members and residents also are concerned about the administration’s failure to provide important information […]
Posted inNews
Borough officials pitch to cruise companies
Representatives from the Haines Borough and its tourism industry say they are confident their pitch of reduced docking fees influenced cruise line officials during recent visits with them in Miami and Seattle. Mayor Jan Hill, tourism director Leslie Ross and Alaska Mountain Guides owner Sean Gaffney met with representatives from Holland America Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Princess […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Encourage assembly to do the right thing
On Sept. 22, the borough assembly voted to pass the minor offenses ordinance. Three assembly members voted “yes” to pass the ordinance. Mayor Jan Hill was not in Haines for the meeting; however, she voted “yes” via teleconference. During the meeting, members of the assembly acknowledged that the ordinance contains substantial flaws. The final vote was promoted by members of […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Reconsider vote and rebuild public trust
On Sept. 22, the Haines Borough Assembly voted to adopt the minor offenses ordinance with an effective date of Jan. 1, subject to certain conditions. I argue the assembly must reconsider and reverse the vote because Haines Borough code was violated. First, the assembly violated local law by allowing the Mayor to vote by teleconference to break the tie. Haines Borough code section […]