Palmer post still vacant

June 6, 2006

By DAWN DE BUSK

Frontiersman

PALMER - After a four-month search to fill the city of Palmer's Public Works Director position, which was vacated during the first week of March after Rich Koch accepted a job as Kenai's city manager, the Palmer City Council could expand the pool of potential candidates by removing the residency requirement for department heads.

During a special meeting tonight at 6, the council will consider lifting a requirement that forbids anyone living outside a 10-mile radius of Palmer from applying for a department head position, according to council member Tony Pippel.

A few years ago, when John Glass was interested in the police chief position, the council put a 10-mile limit on where department heads could live, according to Pippel. However, the job never panned out for Glass.

The city has advertised the Public Works position, but turned down good candidates because of where they lived.

&#8220Now, we either have to pick someone less qualified or do something about the limit,” Pippel said.

The city will most likely choose to reopen the candidacy for Public Works director, hoping to get the ordinance changed before the interviewing and hiring process begins, Pippel said.

The position with the city pays between $54,000 and $74,000 annually and requires supervision of about 15 city employees, in addition to the overseeing of engineers contracted to do city work and updating the city council on a regular basis, according to City Manager Tom Healy.

Also, the council will go into executive session to evaluate the job performance of City Clerk Janette Bower, who was &#8220appointed by the mayor and city council to operate as a separate entity from administration and other departments,” accord-ing to the city Web site.

As usual, the council will have time toward the beginning of the meeting for audience comment.

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252, or dawn.debusk@ frontiersman.com.