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Bristol Bay Borough to interview manager candidates after manager agrees to six‑month buyout
Summary
At a special April 20 meeting the Bristol Bay Borough Assembly said the borough manager agreed to a proposed six‑month buyout; the assembly took no formal action in executive session and scheduled candidate interviews for April 23 starting at 4 p.m.
The Bristol Bay Borough Assembly said at a special meeting April 20 that borough manager James agreed to a proposed six‑month buyout and that the assembly will interview candidates for the manager position on Thursday, April 23.
Mayor Dave Black opened the meeting and told attendees the assembly did not fire the manager but had offered options including a buyout. "I take full responsibility for that," he said, apologizing for the lack of communication to borough employees after the prior executive session.
Mary Swayne urged the assembly to set clear, limited authority for any interim manager and to use objective criteria in selection. "The interim manager should be someone who can support staff, maintain steady operations, and reduce and not add to that pressure," Swayne said, stressing the borough’s busy salmon season as a reason to avoid added instability.
Resident Betty Clark questioned borough spending and hiring decisions and asked for fiscal transparency, saying, "I think we started with about 19,000,000," a figure she described orally; the amount was presented as an approximate value by the speaker.
The assembly moved into executive session at 7:09 p.m. and reconvened at 9:12 p.m. Officials said no formal action was taken during the executive session, but that the manager had agreed to the six‑month buyout proposal and would assist with any transition.
The assembly scheduled candidate interviews for Thursday, April 23, to begin at 4:00 p.m., before the Board of Equalization meeting at 6:00 p.m. The assembly said it plans separate executive sessions for each candidate and asked employees and other interested parties to submit comments or letters for consideration.
Community member Rebecca Ingalls urged the assembly to involve borough employees in the process so new leadership would understand day‑to‑day operations and could work with staff effectively.
No other business was conducted. The assembly adjourned after confirming the interview schedule and the next regular meeting date of May 4 at 7:00 p.m.
Next steps: candidate interviews are set for April 23; the assembly did not announce a final selection at this meeting.
