Monday evening was all about filling vacancies \u2014 both current and forecasted \u2014 for the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. <\/p>\n
In interviews of 10-minutes or fewer, Assembly members screened each of the applicants looking to fill the open District 1 Assembly seat left vacant after Mayor Mary Becker stepped up to fill the role left vacant by the unexpected death of Greg Fisk. One of the key questions around which the rapid-fire interview revolved regarded the hiring of a new city manager. Kim Keifer\u2019s final day as city manager will be April 30.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hiring of a new city manager looms, and I have a feeling that the first thing you\u2019re going to have to do is look through a stack of r\u00e9sum\u00e9s on your desk,\u201d Assembly member Jesse Kiehl frequently told applicants before asking them what they would look for in a new city manager. <\/p>\n
Applicant Al Clough kicked off the series of four interviews \u2014 Cheryl Jebe, one of the five applicants, withdrew her application Monday morning. Clough was the only candidate not to be asked Kiehl\u2019s manager question, likely because it seemed to stem from his interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the biggest thing for the Assembly right now is filling (Kim Kiefer\u2019s) chair,\u201d Clough said when asked about \u201ccurrent issues\u201d facing the Assembly.\u00a0\u201cUnfortunately, I was there when we filled it with the wrong person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clough, a former Assembly member, said that during his term in the mid \u201890s, the Assembly \u201cwent through three mayors and three city managers.\u201d <\/p>\n
Clough wasn\u2019t the only person to point out the importance of filling city manager\u2019s chair. Applicant Arnold Liebelt also touched on the importance of filling the city\u2019s top spot \u2014 and the mayor seat \u2014 after Assembly member Maria Gladziszewski asked him if he was familiar with the current problems before the Assembly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore you start addressing some of the complex issues, you need a foundation,\u201d Liebelt said. \u201cIt\u2019s a process issue to me, without having that leadership at the table, things get more divisive; things get more fragmented.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other candidates gave fairly across-the-board answers. Not surprisingly, \u201cleadership\u201d and \u201cexperience\u201d were key in each applicants\u2019 answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need somebody, not just on paper, whose references show that they know how to have good working relationships with staff during times of change and a good relationship with the Assembly,\u201d applicant Barbara Sheinberg said.<\/p>\n
Applicant Doug Mertz also talked about the importance of selecting an experienced applicant. \u201cWe can\u2019t make this a learn-as-you go type of job,\u201d he said.\u00a0 He also said transparency was an important feature he\u2019d look for in a new manager. Assembly member Jerry Nankervis asked each applicant whether they would seek election this fall when their temporary term expires, should they win it. <\/p>\n
Only Shienberg and Liebelt expressed interest in running for a seat on the Assembly come October. Neither applicant, however, gave a hard yes. <\/p>\n
The Assembly will announce who will fill the vacant seat today at 9 a.m. in the Assembly Chambers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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