By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly Thursday night voted against hiring the candidate for city planner who was recommended by a city hiring committee to fill the position, vacant since August.
A four-member hiring committee headed by City Administrator Keith Brady had recommended hiring Bruce Wall of Soldotna as planning director, with July 1 as his starting date.
But when the motion to approve Wall, at a salary of $93,724, four members of the Assembly voiced objections.
Valorie Nelson, Aaron Bean, Kevin Mosher, and Richard Wein had issues with the salary and other terms such as up to $15,000 for moving expenses, and an opening balance of 40 hours annual leave and an accrual at 12.67 hours per month.
Nelson cited disparities in increases since last year for city positions.
“I don’t understand, while some people are getting 1.5%, this one’s 16%, I see some as high as 75%,” she said. “So when we go through the budget I’m going to have questions, and I have questions on this.”
Bean said, “Not that I’m not very thankful that we found someone who has the credentials and is skilled, clearly, and has the experience, I think we’re starting this off at the ceiling, as far as I can tell, and there is nowhere really to go from there.”
Bean also had issues with terms on annual leave and moving expenses.
“I believe even Mr. Brady was $5K,” he said. “I don’t think the budget has this salary tied into it, I think it’s over the top.”
Wein, participating by phone, asked if the salary included the cost to the city of the PERS retirement system and other benefits, and Brady answered “No.”
“That is an additional 140K,” Wein said. “That is significant.”
Mayor Gary Paxton commented that the question is “How low can you go to hire a planner. The last planner, I was told, left because he wanted more money and so forth. What is the cost of not having a city planner in terms of pursuing economic development … and the things a planner has to do.. I don’t know how you weigh that. I do know you need a city planner.”
Scott Brylinsky’s term as interim planned has ended and he is finishing certain projects, the Assembly was told. The ring committee of Brady, Brylinsky, Pat Swedeen and Matthew Ione conducted several rounds of interviews with applicants for the position before selecting Wall.
Brady said that Wall, currently working for Soldotna, had the experience and certification to warrant the proposed salary.
“I don’t believe it is over-paying him for being here,” he said.
Brady said the annual leave bank was just a week.
“That was just to sweeten the deal to get him here,” he said. “As far as the moving expenses, I was allowed 15k to move to Sitka and I don’t believe $15k is unwarrantable... It is expensive to move, anywhere... I believe it’s a good offer. I think if it’s lowered we won’t get him. He has the experience I believe that we need and the certification that I have been looking for in a planner and community development director.”
Wein asked what Wall’s previous salary was but Brady didn’t know.
Knox staid not having a city planner is a concern.
“Especially leading into our summer season, this should be some of our major economic development time,” he said. “Enticing someone into this job and finding the right person has been quite a lengthy process. We have been through a number of potential candidates. It sounds like some were asking for quite a bit more than this one.”
Paxton said the $15,000 for moving is a non-issue.
“We are ready to spend $35K to investigate the police department but we can’t afford to give $15K,” he said. “The salary? Beats the heck for me, but if we are offering $93K.. what’s next? 60? give me a break, how much lower are you going to go?”
Bean said the position was budgeted for 85K.
Nelson noted that the proposed budget for FY20 has a 5% increase for the planning director position.
“Most of the other city employees increases are 1.5 percent,” she said.
Wein again mentioned not knowing Wall’s previous salary.
Brady again reiterated Wall’s experience and certification.
“This is not at the ceiling,” he said. “This is at step E and our steps go to step O. I am not even offering the ceiling to Bruce Wall at this point. He has, actually, mid-range. I think it’s a fair and commensurate salary for him. Yes, it is not in the budget currently but if approved tonight we will have to make those changes.”
The motion failed 2-4 with Paxton and Knox voting yes and Nelson, Mosher, Wein and Bean voting no.
