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Wasilla council adopts code change allowing yearlong interim director appointments
Summary
The Wasilla City Council adopted an ordinance that changes how certain director-level interim positions are treated, allowing interim appointments up to one year despite debate from council members about whether six months would better protect organizational stability.
The Wasilla City Council on Wednesday adopted Ordinance Serial No. 2529, amending Chapter 3.5 of the Wasilla Municipal Code to clarify temporary employment limits and to authorize mayoral interim appointments for certain director-level positions for periods up to one year. Mayor Glenda D. Ledford presided.
Council members debated at length whether one year was too long for an interim appointment. Council Member Graham moved to amend the ordinance to change the limit from one year to six months; Council Member Cottle seconded that amendment. The amendment failed, 4–2, with Council Members Graham and Crafton voting yes and Council Members Cottle, Schmidt, Velock and Rubio voting no. After the amendment failed, the council voted to adopt Ordinance Serial No. 2529; the ordinance passed with Council Members Cottle, Schmidt, Velock and Rubio in favor and Council Members Graham and Crafton opposed.
Supporters of the one-year provision, including Mayor Ledford and other council members, said the change was intended to allow the mayor flexibility to bring experienced interim managers into director roles when needed and to let those interim appointees work the full hours the job requires without being constrained by the temporary-employee hourly limits currently in code. City Attorney Jennifer Alexander explained the code-based concern: the city’s temporary-employee definition ties eligibility to hours worked and that classification affects other obligations, including participation in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).
Opponents, led by Council Member Graham, argued a one-year interim appointment is effectively close to a permanent placement and risks altering department culture and enabling extended policy changes by nonpermanent appointees. Graham proposed six months with potential short extensions through the council; the council rejected that approach.
The ordinance text applies only to the positions identified in the code section cited during debate (chiefs and director-level roles) and does not alter the classification rules for other temporary employees. The council record shows members asked for clarity that the change is a definitional one — it changes how certain interim positions are treated within the city’s temporary-employee framework rather than creating a separate mayoral authority to appoint indefinitely.
The new code language will be reflected in Wasilla Municipal Code Chapter 3.5, section 350.02(c), per the ordinance approved by the council.
Questions about how the change will interact with PERS contributions and other code sections were raised during discussion; the city attorney said those compliance considerations were part of the reason for the draft language.
Council votes and the full ordinance text will be available in the council minutes and the city clerk’s office.
