By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Interim city administrator Hugh Bevan says he is moving “full speed ahead” on getting top-level vacancies filled at city hall.
Bevan told the Assembly when he was hired for the temporary post that he would make filling vacancies in high-level city positions a top priority.
“We’re proceeding full speed ahead on all fronts with hiring,” Bevan told the Sentinel today.
The Assembly chose Bevan as interim administrator after Fire Chief Dave Miller, who had been serving in the position, stepped down for health reasons. Bevan is expected to serve until John Leach, who has been hired for the permanent position, arrives sometime before April 1.
As to the hiring process, Bevan provided the following update:
– Planning Director (vacant since August 2018) – Bevan is recommending promoting Planner 1 Amy Ainslie to planning director (see story). “She has the right stuff for the job,” Bevan told the Sentinel.
– Library Director (vacant since September) – Video interviews are scheduled for next week or the week after. “We received a good group of resumes for library director that have been submitted to the hiring committee,” Bevan said, referring to an in-house group of city employees and a member of the Library Commission.
– City Assessor (current assessor working remotely) – Video interviews will take place a week to 10 days from now for two candidates who have applied, also with an in-house hiring committee.
– Human Resources Director (vacant since June) – “We’re operating pretty well right now with an expert human resources attorney,” as well as human resources assistant, and a part time staff member, Bevan said. There are no plans at this time to advertise.
– Electric Utility Director (vacant since September) – The advertising period for the job is still open, and a few have applied, Bevan said.
Bevan said given the low unemployment rate down south, it has been challenging filling certain positions.
“As a general rule, Sitka’s going to have to be somewhat creative in our hiring process,” he said. “We’re all competing for a small employment pool.”
Filling jobs in law enforcement has been particularly difficult, he commented.
Bevan said he is making progress in other aspects of the job, including day to day business, and longer-range action plan items identified by the Assembly.
Those include work on the project to build a city seaplane base on Japonski Island, the future of the Marine Service Center facility on Katlian Street, and the No Name Mountain master plan. Bevan said he is also keeping tabs on the Hoonah application to the state boundary commission to annex parts of Sitka, Juneau and Haines boroughs into Hoonah.
So far, Bevan said, the job has been going well,
“It’s going fine,” he said. “In any case, there’s a term to it. I have the luxury of going as hard as I can, knowing it’s not a long-term thing. The staff has been very supportive, and I think we’re making progress. I really do.”
Bevan has served as city administrator before, from 2003 to 2005, and was public works director before that.
