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Haines Borough debates accepting $34,000 GCI gift and asks staff to draft donations policy
Summary
Assembly split over optics of accepting a $34,000 GCI gift for park refurbishment while the company has discussed cell-tower proposals; members asked staff to develop clearer policies for accepting donations and handling potential conflicts of interest.
Members of the Haines Borough Assembly debated whether to accept a $34,000 donation from GCI to refurbish Asland Park after the mayor raised concerns that the company had also approached property owners about cell towers, creating the appearance of influence-buying.
Mayor Morfit urged returning the cash while the company had prospects before the borough, saying the timing looks “shifty” and recommending the gift be returned until the company’s proposals are resolved. The borough manager said the gift was offered to help the community and that the borough had no pending contract with GCI; the manager added, “I have no problem with taking money from some place and also telling them no when it's appropriate.”
Assembly members offered competing views: some said refusing community donations from businesses would set a harmful precedent and noted public-private partnerships can fund needed services and projects; others said the borough needs a clear, consistent policy to avoid perceived conflicts when corporate donors have active or potential permits. One member proposed a threshold-based rule (for example, requiring assembly approval for gifts over a set dollar amount) and creating a formal code or administrative policy to guide acceptance and distribution of donations.
Why it matters: the debate raises questions about municipal ethics and transparency when private firms offer money while pursuing land-use or permitting decisions. Assembly members voted to refer the topic to staff/committee to draft a policy for how the borough accepts, records and, if necessary, returns contributions that could create an appearance of impropriety.
Next steps: staff will explore a donations policy or code amendment outlining thresholds, reporting and distribution mechanisms (for example, routing gifts to a community pool or requiring assembly approval for contributions above a fixed amount). No final decision on the GCI gift was recorded at this meeting.
