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Assembly extends borough manager's contract two years and approves salary adjustment after amendment
Summary
The assembly voted 4-3 to extend Borough Manager Reuben Durand—or an additional two-year term and approved a negotiated salary adjustment after members amended the proposed pay figure; the action followed debate over administrative continuity and fiscal scrutiny.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on May 19 approved an extension of Borough Manager Reuben Durand's employment agreement and adjusted his compensation after a motion and subsequent amendment.
Durand requested an extension through June 30, 2027 citing project continuity, including airport and major capital initiatives that are moving into multi-year phases. During the meeting the manager reiterated his view that additional time would preserve momentum on projects and cited staff continuity as a reason to retain management continuity.
The assembly debated both the term and the compensation level. The original proposed contract in the meeting materials set the manager's salary at $192,973 with standard benefits. Assembly members raised concerns about setting compensation levels for senior executives without a clearer policy on pay ranges and caps. Assembly Member Thompson moved an amendment that modified the salary figure to $189,000; the amendment passed and the main motion as amended subsequently passed on a 4-3 roll-call vote.
Final roll call on the motion as amended showed the following votes: Bailey, Matson, Bowling and Otis voted yes; Palmer, Thompson and Arntzen voted no. Following the amendment, the manager will receive the amended salary and remain under a contract extended through June 30, 2027, subject to the terms recorded in the employment agreement. During debate several assembly members expressed appreciation for the manager's management of staff and capital projects but said they wanted clearer future policies on executive pay and improved fiscal discipline for capital projects and change orders.
The manager and assembly agreed staff will continue to provide detailed financial briefings to the assembly on major capital projects and change-order exposure, and members requested that executive compensation policy be revisited so future raises align with a documented framework for top-level positions.
