City and Borough Assembly

ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA 330 Harbor Drive Sitka, AK (907)747-1811 Minutes - Final City and Borough Assembly Mayor Mim McConnell Deputy Mayor Matt Hunter Vice-Deputy Mayor Phyllis Hackett, Pete Esquiro, Mike Reif, Benjamin Miyasato and Aaron Swanson Municipal Administrator: Mark Gorman Municipal Attorney: Robin L. Koutchak Municipal Clerk: Colleen Ingman, MMC Tuesday, April 15, 2014 5:30 PM City Hall SPECIAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER Present: 7 - McConnell, Hunter, Hackett, Esquiro, Reif, Swanson, and Miyasato II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL IV. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Sitka Daily Sentinel Reporter Shannon Haughland prefers that the evaluations be held in public. V. NEW BUSINESS: 14-068 Annual Evaluation and consideration of a contract for Municipal Attorney Robin Koutchak - requests executive session Municipal Atorney requested an executve session . A motion was made by Hackett to go into executive session under the statutory categories of discussing subjects that tend to prejudice the reputation and character of any person and a potential employee contract that may have an adverse effect upon the finances of the City and Borough of Sitka and invite Municipal Attorney Robin Koutchak in when ready. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Assemblymember Miyasato had not arrived at the time the vote was taken. Yes: 6- McConnell, Hunter, Hackett, Esquiro, Reif, and Swanson Absent: 1- Miyasato Mayor reported that they are very pleased and impressed with her and will CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final April 15, 2014 consider a two -year contract . Details will be worked out in conjuncton with the budget . Reif felt they have a good . match Hacket praises her work in making legal positons/opinions understandable . A motion was made by Swanson to reconvene in regular session. The motion PASSED by a unanimous voice vote. 14-067 Six Month Evaluation and consideration of a contract for Municipal Administrator Mark Gorman - requests public Mark has requested that his evaluaton be held in . public Hacket is not surprised but thrilled with Gorman’s performance. so far Assembly is pleased with the budget process . Feels he is a great asset . Esquiro and Hacket expressed that six months is a short period of tme for a review. He received praise for meetng with citzens , groups and atending regular meetngs with STA . Reif, Esquiro and Swanson requested that Gorman provide a high level of scrutny to see whether outside consultants are really needed on future projects ; questoning the possibility of using internal staf to a greater extent . Miyasato praised Gorman's ability to listen to concerns he has brought up . Mayor commented that Gorman has been engaged , likes his creatvity and ability to take .risks She also remarked that he did a good job on the legislatve trip . Reif said he is pleased and believes he will have a long tenure . He added that Gorman has already made critcal moves that have made him more efectve; such as sharing some responsibility . Excellent job with the agenda before it gets to their . table Hunter thanked him for hitng the ground running and establishing a welcoming atmosphere . He looks forward to the future and is very pleased and thanked Gorman . Swanson gets an opportunity to interact with a lot of employees and public and thus far people are happy with how you are doing. The Assembly also mentoned his familiarity - he knows the people and people know him, which is an asset. Gorman relayed that this is a humbling . proces This job is the most challenging of his career; that of managing confictng expectatons. Challenges such as the Transient Locaton where he is trying to fnd the balance of community process . The municipality is a mix of professions that CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final April 15, 2014 have diferent approaches . He has not worked in a union environment before, which is doesn't allow for fexibility or prerogatve . He is pleased that he has come on board at a tme when there is a very cohesive Assembly , which makes his job easier. When asked about his accomplishments , he ofered that getng out in the community has been helpful to him and believes he needs to contnue. that Referencing his ofce as the “community’s ofce ." With Jays role expanded , it allows him the luxury to spend more tme in other.areas There are some real dedicated employees. The team inside the CBS needs to contnue to be worked on. He has discovered many silos and some isolaton and we are beginning to make some end roads. In response to a few members comments on outside consultants Gorman brought up that we are about to do another one for the General Fund Master Plan- conductng interviews this . week He doesn’t want to be out of synch with the Assembly , yet he is following their inital directve . With regard to the issue with how do we deal with the deferred maintenance on roads; he believes we have the competency to address in -house. Gorman then ofered his ratonal for a contract . If he was an Assemblymember he would be a lot more comfortable with his positon being under contract . He has many more protectons under the Municipal Handbook versus a contract . He is not stuck on, itbut it is his advice. He understands that severance has been a concern in the, past including some provision for severance is really the norm . It is not defned in the personnel laws. At this tme he is not seeking additonal compensaton , simply looking for a slight increase in benefts of additonal annual .leave Members said they would address a contract at the tme the budget is considered. Reif, Miyasato and Ingman will work up drafs for the Assembly’s consideraton at that .tme VI. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Reporter Shannon Haugland thanked .Mr Gorman for having his evaluaton in public. VII. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Reif that this meeting be ADJOURNED . The motion PASSED by an unanimous vote and the meeting ADJOURNED at 7:58 PM. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3