Daily Sitka Sentinel

Administrator List Narrowed to Eight

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

The Assembly narrowed the field of candidates for the position of city administrator to eight Monday, and picked two questions for them to answer in essay form before the next phase of the selection process.

There was little discussion on the candidates before or after the seven Assembly members picked their four favorites in a 35-minute special meeting at Centennial Hall. Those with two votes or fewer were eliminated.

The list of candidates is now as follows:

– Bryan Bertacchi, electric director for Sitka. Executive MBA program, St. Mary’s University. Electrical engineering, bachelor’s from California Polytechnic State University (four votes).

–  Carey Meyer, Homer. MPA, public engineer. Currently city engineer for the City of Homer. BS civil engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla; MPA University of Alaska Southeast (four votes).

– Dave Miller, Sitka fire chief since May 2009. Also served as jailer for Sitka Police Department, and director of food services, Sheldon Jackson College (five votes).

– Tony Stobbe, director of public works for Mariposa County, Calif. MBA University of California-Berkeley. MS civil engineering University of Illinois, BS civil engineering, U.S. Coast Guard Academy (five votes).

– Michael J. Scott, Des Moines, Wash. CEO of Maniilaq Services. Former president of NANA services. Assistant Commissioner and regional director for the state, and executive manager for the City of Anchorage (five votes).

–  Harry Staven, Richland, Wash. MPA Seattle University, BS Central Washington University. Finance Director for city of Bandon, Ore. Former city administrator and planner for Hoonah, former finance director of Galena, Alaska (three votes).

– Patrick S. Jordan, Wexford County Administrator, in Cadillac, Mich. Former manager of Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska. Assistant city manager of Unalaska. Master of public administration, Western Michigan University, bachelor’s political science, Grand Valley State University (four votes).

– Kevin Opple, Snohomish, Wash. Most recently city manager for Naval Station Everett, in Washington. BA from Albion College, Executive Master of Public Administration from University of Washington (four votes).

At press time today Human Resources Director Mark Danielson said Stobbe had withdrawn his name from consideration.

In discussing the questions, Assembly members said they felt it was important to find someone who would be a good fit for Sitka, and who would become involved in the community.

The current list of candidates, down from the original list of 48 applicants, will be asked to submit two-page written responses to each of the following questions:

1) Please describe your management style, including communication and interpersonal relationship skills that you would utilize to enhance working relationships with department heads, other city staff and the public.

2) What have you learned about the municipal administrator position with the City and Borough of Sitka and why is now a good time in your career to consider this position? Why is now a good time to move to and live in Sitka?

Assembly members plan to meet 6 p.m. March 7 to select the candidates for Skype interviews later in March. Finalists are customarily flown to Sitka for in-person interviews.

The Assembly briefly discussed the rules for talking with candidates in executive session. City Attorney Brian Hanson said the Assembly is allowed to discuss candidates’ qualifications for the job in public but conversations about character may be appropriate for executive session. 

Mark Danielson, human resources director for the city, told the Assembly he will send a release form to the candidates which allows the Assembly to discuss them in executive session. They have the right to ask for the Assembly to hold the conversation in public, he said.

Assembly members varied in the qualities sought in a candidate.

Tristan Guevin said today he’s looking for someone with senior management experience given the complexity of Sitka’s city government and the fact the administrator oversees some 165 employees. He said municipal experience is a plus although some may have management experience that translates well into municipal experience. He said he also looked at their resumes for financial expertise, length of tenure in past jobs, education and Alaskan experience.

Steven Eisenbeisz said he’s thinking a lot about what he’s looking for in a new administrator.

“It’s hard for me to quantify,” he said today. He wants the person taking the job to be ready for some of the potential difficulties of living here.

“Sitka’s a difficult place to live for people used to driving anywhere,” he said. “If you can’t dedicate yourself to island life ....” 

He added: “The person will have to work hard at rebuilding city hall, making it a fun place to work, as well as an ability to tackle our budget issues, head-on. We need someone with experience to do that.”

Aaron Bean said a familiarity with Sitka is an asset.

“I’m looking for someone who understands the problems Sitka is facing – I’m leaning toward local applicants,” he said. “There’s something to be said for that knowledge. ... It’s like a fishing boat: do you want someone who’s been on deck for 30 years, or someone with fishing experience, but doesn’t know about the boat.”

At the outset of the meeting, the Assembly agreed to remove two applicants from consideration, based on their own background checks.