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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Mayor, working group to sell solid waste plan to public
Haines Borough Mayor Jan Hill and borough manager Debra Schnabel are working to refine and release a publicly subsidized solid waste program plan that will be palatable for the public. The Solid Waste Working Group presented a plan to the borough assembly Monday that includes up to a 1 percent sales tax increase to help pay for the estimated $500,000 […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Divisive mayor hurts civil discourse
In Haines the mayor’s job is to run meetings with fairness and civility, ensuring that things go smoothly and with everyone having a voice. That’s how it should be. When things go otherwise it’s a sign of poor management. Under Jan Hill we’ve had endless angry meetings, limited citizen participation, representatives walking out (for any reason), serious […]
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One of these candidates will be Haines’ next mayor
Challenger Joanie Wagner says Haines needs a fresh perspective. Incumbent Jan Hill says experience counts. In one sentence, please describe the role of the mayor. Wagner: The Mayor sets the tone for our community and also is an example for the community. Hill: The role of the Mayor is to run assembly meetings, represent the community locally and beyond, and to […]
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Mayoral candidates differ on leadership style
Differences in leadership style and how to conduct civil discourse in the midst of divisiveness were two themes incumbent Mayor Mayor Jan Hill and challenger Joanie Wagner touched on during Monday’s candidate forum at the Chilkat Center. Wagner went on the attack in her opening remarks, criticizing Hill for enabling divisiveness in Haines. “The reputation of Haines has been […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Mayor, assembly candidates want to repair wounds
October’s municipal race heated up this week after a handful of residents declared their candidacy for Mayor and assembly just before Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline. Artist and Skipping Stone Studios owner Joanie Wagner is challenging incumbent Jan Hill for a three-year term as Mayor. As of last week only two candidates had filed for the three open assembly seats. But […]
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Public criticizes proposed salary cut for mayor
The Haines Borough Assembly considered an appeal from a resident to reimburse them for the cost of providing adequate water pressure to their future home and held several public hearings on ordinances that would decrease the mayor’s annual salary and change the funding source for service areas. John Winge, Carol Tuynman and Cindy Jones, spoke out against […]