On hold: Borough ballot questions postponed until next year

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough ballot will be smaller in November as both the strong mayor ordinance and the first class borough ordinance have been postponed until 2021.

Assemblyman Jesse Sumner had proposed Ordinance 20-046 in April that would place the question before Borough voters of whether or not to repeal the manager form of government. The ordinance was somewhat debated as Assembly members argued over when to hold public hearings that were eventually scheduled for June, July and August. However, Sumner moved to postpone the discussion until 2021 without providing explanation on Tuesday.

“I would move to table this item then and the other item actually until the first meeting in January,” said Sumner.

Sumner’s strong Mayor ordinance was postponed until January by a 6-1 vote with only Assemblyman George McKee voting in favor. When originally proposed in April, concern was raised over if the Mat-Su Borough voters would have enough time to educate themselves on the issue. If passed, the Assembly would have 60 days to consider an ordinance or series of ordinance repealing the manager form of government and allowing the Mayor to serve as both chief executive and chief administrator for the Borough. Mayor Halter would not have had the ability to veto the measure from appearing on the ballot if passed. Members of the community spoke in June about the ordinance with confusion which continued on Tuesday.

“I don’t believe that this can possibly be done by November,” said Patti Fisher.

Ordinance 20-061 introduced in May by Mayor Halter and cosponsored by Assembly Member Leonard would have allowed voters to determine if the Mat-Su Borough should reclassify as a first class borough. The Mat-Su Borough is currently a second class borough and does not have health powers or police powers. Halter said that he believes as the Borough continues to grow, first class powers will become vital. Each of the four members of the public who testified on the first class borough ordinance spoke in opposition. Sumner’s amendment to postpone the first class borough ordinance until January passed without objection.