Palmer considering full-time mayor

August 26, 2005

DAWN DE BUSK\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Mayor John Combs estimates he's talked to between 70 and 100 Palmer residents, asking them what they think of the idea of having a full-time mayor.

"Usually the response is 'Aren't you a full-time mayor already?' " Combs said during a phone interview Thursday.

On Tuesday, the Palmer City Council held the first of two public hearings on an ordinance that would expand the mayor's duties and increase his compensation from $200 per regular meeting and $100 per work session and $50 per special session to an annual salary between $45,000 and $60,000.

The next public hearing will be Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.

This ordinance is different than the strong-mayor government concept introduced in Palmer earlier this summer. If approved, this ordinance would not change City Manager Tom Healy's position, Combs said.

During Tuesday's meeting, one person showed up to testify.

"I'm opposed to it because residents of Palmer elected the mayor to be part time. Now, in the middle of the stream, the rules have changed," Detlef Wanke said. "Hopefully, I can round up some of my friends for the next meeting."

Combs has served one year of his three-year term. Prior to that, he sat on the city council for five years. He also works full time as a juvenile justice officer at Mat-Su Youth Facility.

"After about five months of working as mayor, it was apparent that the work load being asked of me was too much for a part-time position. In addition to the meetings, I was trying to work 15 or 20 hours. Still, that wasn't enough to get the job done," Combs said.

The city clerk and city attorney informed Combs that the only way to work full time was to change the charter, switching the power from the city manager to the city mayor. However, changing the city's charter requires the OK of Palmer voters.

When the strong-mayor ordinance, introduced by Combs, came before the council for discussion, the city attorney realized there was another option to make the mayor's job full time - increase his duties and his pay, Combs said.

So, council members Jim Wood and Brad Hanson introduced an ordinance to reflect that option.

"To avoid head-butting - not with this administration, but down the line - we should make it so the shots are called by city manager," Wood said. "I want to insure that the city manager keeps his powers."

Hanson asked about financial authority. Would the mayor be able to write a purchase order? he asked.

Council member Tony Pippel suggested that the clerk co-sign purchase orders with the mayor.

"I like the idea of check and balances," he said. Pippel also challenged other council members to think about where to set Combs' salary.

During the upcoming regularly scheduled meeting, Sept. 13, the council will listen to public input and, it can also vote whether or not to bring the mayor's duties to full time.

"If you look at the history of the position, there hasn't been a level of activity like there is now. We're working on zoning changes and annexation and running a huge public works project," said Combs, adding that he'll do some lobbying in Juneau and Washington, D.C., to garner funding for Palmer projects.

"I think this is the right thing to do. I don't see any problem," Pippel said. "There's enough going on to justify a full-time mayor."

In other business, following an executive session to evaluate Healy's job performance, the council voted to extend his contract for another two years and increase his salary from $83,000 to $87,000 a year. Appointed by the council, Healy has served six years as city manager.

Contact Dawn De Busk at

352-2252, or dawn.debusk@ frontiersman.com.