Resigning our borough manager, for grievances from another assembly member—not convictions—speaks to the lack of ability for our Mayor to hold our community together in these trying times. How could Mayor Hill not speak up against this and then proceed directly to express the need for the community to come together during these difficult times? Eliminating a vital member […]
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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 inNews
Assembly postpones facilities director hire, mayor silences Morphet
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday unanimously delayed approving new public facilities director, Ed Coffland, until December 10 when a new assembly is seated. He will continue to work unconfirmed until that time. Borough manager Debra Schnabel hired Coffland last week to replace former public facilities director Brad Ryan, who accepted a borough manager position in Skagway. Coffland is […]
Posted inNews
Scammer posing as Mayor Hill steals from residents
It starts with a generic question. A one-liner email appears in your inbox from what appears to be Haines Borough Mayor Jan Hill. “Are you available?” The recipient responds. It escalates. “The Mayor says, ‘I’m in a bind. I’m stuck in Juneau and I lost my wallet, can you do me the favor of going and getting gift cards and […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Our mayor was in the right
I was disgusted but not surprised by the attacks by liberal members of the Borough Assembly against Mayor Jan Hill. She owes no one an apology or explanation as to her comments regarding INSANE Tier 3 designation of the Chilkat River. Jan was born and raised here. She knows better than most the importance of a balanced economy. […]
Posted inNews
Assembly advances 30K design for new chambers in library; Mayor breaks 3-3 vote
Should the Haines Borough spend $30,000 on a library addition design for assembly chambers that would ultimately cost upwards of $430,000 to build? Assembly members were divided 3-3 Tuesday evening in a vote, recommended by director of public facilities Brad Ryan, to authorize MRV Architects’ designs for new assembly chambers as part of the Haines Borough Public Library’s expansion. Mayor Jan […]
Posted inNews
Assembly advances publicly funded solid waste program: Mayor breaks tie vote
The Haines Borough Assembly narrowly advanced a ballot measure during its first public hearing Tuesday that would give voters the option to approve a 1 percent areawide sales tax increase to pay for a municipally managed solid waste program. The ordinance would provide for “regulation, operation and management of a municipal solid waste program that pays for […]
Posted inNews
Assembly adopts naming policy, mayor issues Ward statement
The Haines Borough Assembly voted 5-1 to adopt a naming policy that allows the body to name public places and facilities for individuals five years after they’ve died, or in a group’s case been disbanded for at least five years. The action comes after revelations surfaced earlier this month that former Haines School teacher, principal and superintendent […]
Posted inNews
Assembly and mayor disagree over commission appointment
The Haines Borough Assembly rejected Mayor Jan Hill’s recommendation to appoint Zach Ferrin to the planning commission—a decision that highlighted the political nature of the appointment process. The Mayor appoints board and commission members subject to assembly approval, according to borough code. When filling vacancies, local advisory bodies rank applicants based on a score sheet and recommend applicants to the Mayor, although […]
Posted inNews
Assembly questions mayor on commission appointments
A Haines Borough Assembly member and a public safety commission applicant are pushing to seek its board appointments after Mayor Jan Hill stopped scheduling meetings. At last Tuesday’s assembly meeting, Hill said the commission wasn’t working, in part, because the assembly rejected a public safety commission proposal to change its name and membership make-up. “The manager and I, because the […]