MEA has new general manager — for now

PALMER — Matanuska Electric Association has installed its interim general manager.

Joe Griffith is a former chief executive officer of Chugach Electric Association. Chugach first hired him in 1989 to be its chief financial officer. He moved up to CEO in 2001 and retired from Chugach in 2005. This week, MEA’s board of directors voted unanimously to hire Griffith under a contract they then made public.

“I believe there are challenges out there,” Griffith said shortly after his contract was signed. “But I’m confident we have the talent and the capability in our organization here and on the board to resolve these things and I assure you I will do my darnedest to make it happen.”

Under the terms of the contract, Griffith officially took over Monday and will be paid $17,500 per month, slightly less than the previous general manager who, according to numbers the co-op released in 2008, made $224,139.16 in 2007, or nearly $18,700 a month.

MEA has been in need of a leader since June 16, when the board fired Wayne Carmony, its previous general manager. In the interim, Assistant General Manager Donald Zoerb stepped in as acting general manager.

While in the process of firing Carmony, the board also terminated two long-time executive employees — Assistant General Manager Tuckerman Babcock and Information Technology Director Bruce Scott. Both have since filed suit in Superior Court, alleging they weren’t given all of the severance pay to which they were entitled. The first hearing in that case will not take place until Sept. 8.

Carmony’s tenure at the co-op seemed to be at an end since the beginning of 2008, when the board’s makeup shifted from a pro-Carmony majority to an anti-Carmony majority. His detractors have cited as Carmony’s failings an unwillingness to work with other co-operatives and an adversarial relationship with the co-op’s employees’ union. His proponents said he was very focused on the bottom line, refusing to give up any co-op money without a fight.

As interim general manager, Griffith’s powers will be limited. He will need to seek approval from the board before he hires or fires any employee, changes any MEA policy or makes a decision with a financial impact on the co-op that is $50,000 or more.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board made final plans to purchase 70 acres of land in the Eklutna area on which it plans to build a new power plant. Those plans have been in the works for some time.

The board also selected its officers. Peter Burchell, who served until Monday as the board’s secretary/treasurer, dropped out of the running early on.

“I’m tentatively scheduled for two major surgeries this year,” Burchell said, by way of explanation. “I think my wheels are coming off and this is an attempt to slow down the process.”

The board chose Kit Jones to take his place. Lois Lester was re-elected president and David Glines was voted vice-president.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.