Daily Sitka Sentinel

Assembly Has Praise For Gorman, Hanson

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

The Assembly gave “exemplary” ratings to the city administrator and the city attorney Tuesday night after the annual performance evaluations of the city’s top two officials.

This year’s evaluations came during a period of transition in the city government. Mark Gorman is two months from retirement after nearly four years as administrator, and Brian Hanson became city attorney only seven months ago.

Gorman’s evaluation was conducted in open session, at his request. In general, he was praised for his contributions to the city, and thanked for his work.

“When I think of you, I think of public service: locally, nationally, internationally,” said Bob Potrzuski. “That’s been your whole life. ... What a way to live a life that’s valid and valuable.”

Referring to Gorman’s comments about “sleepless nights” caused by big budget challenges in the city, Tristan Guevin said, “For me, one thing that makes it easier for me to sleep is knowing you’ve been our administrator. ... I really appreciate everything you’ve brought.”

Aaron Swanson thanked Gorman for reaching out to him to solicit his input and opinions over the last four years.

“I have nothing negative to say about your tenure,” Swanson said. “I hope it’s a peaceful transition for you.”

Mayor Matt Hunter said he has appreciated how Gorman has made decisions in “an informed manner,” and Kevin Knox also praised Gorman’s contributions.

“Your tenure here is quite successful, I appreciated a lot of things you did,” Knox said.

“Thanks for your time here,” Steve Eisenbeisz said. “I hope the transition goes well for you as well as us.”

Gorman gave his own comments at the outset of the meeting.

“It’s been a privilege to serve this community,” he said. “It’s been the most challenging and humbling three years, eight months, and 18 days.”

He said he has found the level of “active community civil society” inspiring, and has many “takeaways” from the job.

“The political process can’t be managed, and if you try to manage it, it reacts,” he said. 

He also thanked the Assembly for helping and supporting him.

“It’s been a privilege,” he said.

In an interview after the evaluation, Gorman said he has enjoyed working with this Assembly, and glad to be finishing his tenure with their support, and kind words.

“It’s been a good Assembly to work with,” he said.

He cited budget pressures, raising rates for city services and paying the cost of the Blue Lake dam, as among the challenges the city has faced in the last year. There’s been an effort to engage the community in the discussion over the last year, and there seems to be a greater understanding of the challenges. Gorman said.

He had expected a long line at the Assembly meeting to protest the 15 percent electric rate increase and was surprised that it didn’t happen, he said. 

“No one wants an electric rate increase,” he said. “I think people understand why it’s happening. That’s been very helpful.”

As to what advice he would give his successor: “Try not to take it personally.”

Gorman, a former administrator at SEARHC, was working with a non-governmental agency in Laos when he returned to Sitka to become city administrator. He said he and his wife, Nancy Knapp, will report for their next job in Myanmar (formerly Burma) on Aug. 1, working for a Canadian NGO Global Neighbors to establish a 24-bed teaching hospital.

Hanson, who grew up in Sitka and had his own law practice here before becoming city attorney, asked for his evaluation to be held in executive session. After their review behind closed doors, Assembly members returned to open session and said they are pleased with the job he’s doing, and voted 6-0 to raise his salary to $135,000. He was hired at $125,000.

“I want to thank Brian for his time and service,” Eisenbeisz said. “I think we hit a home run with this attorney. I hope this one (annual) evaluation turns into many, many evaluations.”

“I completely agree,” Hunter said.

“He’s far exceeded our expectations,” Potrzuski said. “He took the job at a reduced rate. I feel we’re still getting a bargain, moving his contract up to May 1.”

“In seven months, he’s saved the city quite a bit of money,” Knox said. “He’s gone above and beyond the call of duty.”