Search for new manager continues

PALMER — The search for a new Mat-Su Borough manager continues unabated.

This summer marked the end of John Duffy’s 10-year tenure holding the reins at the borough. Almost immediately after he announced his resignation in April the borough assembly began looking for a replacement.

But the wheels of government turn slowly. Monday, Deputy Mayor Lynne Woods said the assembly hasn’t gotten as far as planning interviews or deciding on interview questions. Assembly members are still fielding resumés.

“We received quite a few already,” Woods said, estimating it at 24.

She said a lot of applications came from heads of small counties or towns. The assembly decided it might be best to state more clearly what the job entails. So it is putting out information such as how many people live here, how big the borough is and what kinds of long-range projects are already in the works.

“We just thought we’d keep it open for a bit and try to get the best candidate possible,” she said. “It’s quite a job. It’s like running a corporation.”

Projects she mentioned were those having to do with building the borough’s port and starting ferry operations there, as well as addressing road and other infrastructure needs.

Woods said that the assembly doesn’t yet have a set date for filling the position. The advertisement seeking applicants — posted May 17 — states the job will remain “open until filled.” The only date was June 30, when applications were to receive their first review.

That review was when the assembly chose to keep the position open longer and provide potential applicants a clearer picture of the borough.

Through it all, though, there’s been something of a cloud of uncertainty over the process. Early last month the assembly chose to put to a vote of the people a change in the borough’s style of governance that would see the borough mayor take over most of the manager’s duties.

The mayor is currently more of a diplomat whose main powers include making appointments to borough boards and commissions, vetoing assembly ordinances and breaking ties at assembly meetings. Because of that, at least one assemblyman doesn’t think the assembly should be so quick to find Duffy’s replacement.

Mark Ewing, who sponsored the ordinance putting the so-called “strong mayor” form of government on the ballot, said it would be more prudent to wait until after the Oct. 5 general election.

“I think it’s going to be a waste of taxpayers’ money to go through this process,” he said.

But most of his colleagues around the assembly table disagree. While it could be the case that whatever manager is brought in would either lose his job or see his duties radically changed in just a matter of months, that’s not a foregone conclusion, they point out.

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