Duffy's hiring made permanent

PALMER - In the midst of all the election furor Tuesday, at least one political figure won office without a great deal of fanfare. Of course, he wasn't elected.

John Duffy, appointed acting borough manager last month by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly, was hired as borough manager in a special meeting Tuesday afternoon.

As Mat-Su residents went to the polls, assembly members agreed unanimously to hire Duffy as borough manager.

Duffy assumed the post as an interim position following the resignation of Mike Scott after the Oct. 3 borough election. Assembly members voted 4-2 to reinstate him as acting manager, with members Larry DeVilbiss and Kelly Lankford Ladere in opposition. Shortly afterward, the assembly asked Duffy to present them with a contract proposal.

There were several differences between Scott's contract and Duffy's.

Duffy was hired at $88,000 per year, with no bonus and a 60-day severance package. Duffy had requested $95,000 - the same amount Scott had been earning when he left, except Scott managed to negotiate a six-month severance, instead. Duffy said he had just wanted the same severance package as other borough administration department heads.

Duffy's hiring was done in an open meeting. Scott's severance package was negotiated in executive session, closed to the public.

Duffy came to work for the borough in 1986 as a planning assistant, and had been promoted to planning director before he assumed the position of assistant borough manager.