Mayor backs Buck Jones for road service area board; assembly discusses conflict-of-interest protocols

The policies and procedures committee discussed KPBDash7568, a confirmation to the road service area board for nominee Buck Jones, during which the mayor voiced support and an assembly member pressed for clarity on recusal rules when board members have borough contracts.

The mayor said, "I support Buck Jones. He's a roads guy," and noted that the road board benefits from people with road-maintenance expertise. Assembly member Dunn replied that he knows and likes Buck Jones from Jones's prior service on the Kachemak emergency service area board but asked whether there are guidelines for recusal when a board member's business holds contracts with the borough.

Dunn said Jones is a principal in East Road Services, which performs borough road maintenance, and asked how recusal and recommendation procedures work when the board discusses contracts. The mayor answered that "John's department works with the road service area for contracts," that a member should declare a conflict if discussing an area where they have business interests, and that in a small state such conflicts are discussed frequently; he said he did not see the affiliation as an automatic disqualifier.

Dunn said his questions had been answered and that he did not oppose the nomination. The transcript does not record a motion or a confirmation vote for KPBDash7568. The committee then adjourned at 04:57.