Planning committee recommends contracts for hygienist, billing manager and dental assistant to full board

The Dawn Memorial Clinic Planning Committee voted to forward three personnel and service contract recommendations to the full board: an amendment to the dental hygienist contract to convert to an hourly employment arrangement, a contract for the clinic’s billing and coding manager, and a short-term dental assistant contract.

Dental hygienist: committee members approved sending an amendment for Priya Mavroudis (transcript spelling varied) that moves the hygienist from a daily $500‑a‑day contractor model to an hourly employment arrangement after the provider decided to relocate to Skagway and work more consistently. Director Alex Wall said the move allows scheduling flexibility and avoids high daily contractor costs; Wall noted travel-pay language remained in the contract to cover a planned final trip to relocate the provider’s personal goods.

Housing and term concerns: committee members asked whether the employment contract’s housing and utilities provision included a timeline if the employee secures independent housing. Wall said there is no fixed timeline in the hygienist contract and that housing arrangements for providers will be negotiated case‑by‑case; he described a current approach that provides shared two‑bedroom housing for incoming permanent providers until they secure their own housing. "If it becomes a problem that someone is abusing that over a period of time, then we just talk to them about it," Wall said.

Billing and coding manager: the committee approved forwarding a contract for Melanie Hampton, described by a committee member as a central figure in the clinic’s revenue operations who had not received a raise since 2021. The motion included a cost-of-living/compensation adjustment.

Dental assistant: the committee forwarded a short-term contract for dental assistant Hannah Filan (transcript shows alternate spellings) with committee members explaining the contract is intended as periodic, 30‑day coverage when needed. Director Wall explained the prior year’s sequence of repeated 30‑day contracts used while the dental clinic was stood up and said the contract ceiling and term reflect a short fill‑in arrangement; he also noted that once the $5,000 cap on a prior contract was reached that contract had ended.

Votes and next steps: each motion to forward contracts to the full board passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded in the transcript. Committee members asked staff to clarify contract timelines and to remove an inadvertently attached audit summary before the packet goes to the board. Final hiring terms (including any ongoing housing arrangements) will be negotiated by staff and may return to the board for further action if members request.