Borough manager receives passing grade, pay hike

July 22, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - The Mat-Su Borough Assembly gave Borough Manager John Duffy a good performance evaluation Tuesday, along with a $5,242 hike in pay.

Assembly members met Tuesday for Duffy's annual performance evaluation. Normally such job reviews are handled in executive session, but Duffy waived his right to privacy and opened the meeting to the public.

Duffy received glowing evaluation from most assembly members, but others expressed reservations when voting for his raise.

Duffy's satisfactory evaluation garnered him a 5-percent pay increase, from $104,832 per year to $110,074, despite a narrow 4-3 vote from the assembly. Members Talis Colberg, Jim Colver and Betty Vehrs voted against Duffy's pay hike.

According to Colver, the borough manager works at the pleasure of the assembly and each year, the seven-member body assesses the manager's performance and issues a report.

Duffy's greatest strength, Colver said, was his "outstanding professionalism" and his " vast wealth of knowledge on the workings of the borough."

The borough manager is responsible for implementing the borough assembly's policy decisions and directives, managing and directing operations, and developing an organization that results in effective and efficient service delivery to the residents and taxpayers.

Both Duffy and the assembly suggested he try improving communication between his office and assembly members. Some said they thought they received information about important decisions with short notice, while others said they felt they were not receiving enough notice about various department meetings.

Vehrs expressed displeasure with Duffy's communication regarding meetings affecting her district.

"Information is critical to me dealing with issues in my district," Vehrs said. "I depend on the administration to be forthcoming and dependable. But when information about meetings is being withheld, it is detrimental for me to do my job."

Vehrs said she was troubled that she wasn't informed about a series of meetings regarding the Boy Scouts and borough land in her district.

"He specifically admitted to withholding information about a meeting," Vehrs said. "Without honesty, how can there be trust?"

She concluded that other than her concerns regarding communication, she would give Duffy a C-minus if she were passing out a letter grade.

Other assembly members were more reserved in their remarks.

"I think he's done a good job. He's managed to have a full plate," Assembly Member Jody Simpson said. "Everyone had kind words to say on his performance on the main part of the evaluation. Some people had some personal items or some criticisms for improvement, and he also pointed out some weaknesses."

Duffy was happy with the evaluation and said he was looking forward to continuing in the position.

"I was a little nervous about the evaluation, but who wouldn't be nervous going into an evaluation? I am happy it all went well and look forward to another year with the borough. I am having fun doing this job."

Contact Darrell Breese at 352-2267 or darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.