During their regular meeting on Tuesday night (06-13-17), the Sitka Assembly bid farewell to city administrator Mark Gorman. As they search for his replacement, interim administrator Phillip Messina will take his place. Gorman’s last day is Thursday, June 15th.
Speaking on the record, Gorman said he felt thankful for the strong democracy . He described arriving at City Hall this morning and hearing Raven Radio’s local newscast. “I hear reported that tonight is my last meeting. And I’m sitting in the parking lot and had this overwhelming sense of gratitude for this opportunity to serve our community.
Gorman also spoke of his previous job in Laos, “a community country with no civil society.” He added, “How lucky we are in the United States. We have conflict but it’s not the magnitude of these other places and brought focus to my appreciation of what I’ve experienced in Sitka.” He profusely thanked city staff, the Sitka Assembly, and citizens. “Sitka is going to remain my future home. Wish you all luck and wish future Assemblies the same,” Gorman said.
In his four years as Sitka’s city administrator, Gorman received consistently outstanding marks from his bosses – the seven member of the Sitka Assembly. He and his wife Nancy will embark to Myanmar later this summer to assist in the development of a 24-bed teaching hospital.
The Sitka Assembly also:
–Passed the budget for the upcoming year, which includes a 5% increase to harbor moorage rates. That rate increase was originally 6%, but changed during the Assembly’s budget process.
–Approved a $400,000 transfer from the unassigned fund balance into the electric rate stabilization fund
–Postponed a decision to give Sitka Community Hospital $400,000 to expand the clinic until August 8th. By that time, the Assembly will hold a town hall meeting over whether the hospital should merge with the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.
–Approved new moorage rates at Baranof Warm Springs
Prior to the meeting, the Assembly toured the Mt. Edgecumbe pool facility under construction.
Stephanie Kruse, Mt. Edgecumbe High School aquatic center project engineer, leads city staff and Sitka assembly members on a tour Wednesday afternoon.(Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)
