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Tension over hiring process and alleged conduct marks Ely treasurer's evaluation
Summary
A council debate during the Aug. 22 Ely City Council meeting questioned hiring transparency for appointed officials and included a disputed allegation that City Treasurer/HR Director Janette Trask threw worksheets during a prior meeting; the treasurer denied the characterization and received a 3% raise.
The Ely City Council’s annual evaluation of City Treasurer and Human Resources Director Janette Trask on Aug. 22 became a wider discussion of hiring practices and workplace conduct after Councilman Jim Alworth raised multiple concerns about transparency and past interactions.
Alworth recounted a March 29 meeting that he said culminated with Trask "exploding forward towards us, throwing worksheets across her desk at us," which he characterized as insubordination. "I felt her reaction was totally unprofessional," Alworth said. He said he considered filing a formal notice but ultimately raised the matter during the evaluation so it could be addressed publicly.
Trask disputed Alworth’s account. "I have a whole different version of that," she said, adding she does not agree with his characterization of the exchange. No formal HR complaint was filed at the meeting, and a motion by Alworth to reduce Trask’s raise as discipline failed for lack of a second.
Discussion also revisited the hiring of an appointed building official in January 2024. Alworth said the candidate was interviewed on a weekend with limited council involvement and that POOL/PACT (the city’s risk‑pool advisor) had recommended clearer procedures. Council members noted the council adopted Resolution 2024‑02 earlier in 2024 to establish hiring procedures for appointed officials, which includes mayoral appointment with council advice and consent and a requirement that candidates be present for confirmation.
Several council members defended Trask’s work record and praised her audit performance: "When I come into your office, I get the answers that I want and the answers that I need," Councilwoman Samantha Elliott said, noting Trask produced a clean audit. Councilwoman Jem‑Lynn Williams‑Harper thanked Trask for improving financial transparency.
After deliberation the council endorsed Trask’s evaluation and approved a 3% raise; the motion carried 4‑aye with one abstention (Councilman Terrill Trask recused himself owing to a family relationship). The council also discussed the proper role of POOL/PACT as a guidance resource and acknowledged the recently adopted resolution intended to provide consistent hiring steps for appointed positions.
The council did not take disciplinary action and directed that personnel and hiring procedures be followed according to adopted resolutions and city code.
