The Haines Borough Administration Building. (Google Maps)
There are hundreds of pages of Haines Borough Code that dictate everything from assembly procedures to land use.
It’s the newly-formed Code Review Commission’s job to find redundant or unnecessary pieces of code and recommend changes.
At a meeting last week, the commission spent more than an hour debating where to start.
The incentive to clean up code was born out of the community’s negative reaction to a minor offenses ordinance. The ordinance brought to light the number of small violations that exist in borough code.
But the commission decided not to start with minor offenses. They instead chose Title 2, which deals with administration and personnel.
In an email, commission member Daniel Humphrey suggested that starting place. Humphrey said in light of recent ‘dynamics’ around the assembly’s relationship with the borough manager, that part of code could use a closer look. In December, the assembly fired manager Bill Seward during his six-month evaluation. There’s been significant turnover in the top borough job.
Commission member Don Turner Jr. supported starting with Title 2.
“I think being that we’re getting ready to hire a new manager and stuff, personally I think it’s a real good place to start at,” Turner said.
Chairman Mike Denker pushed to prioritize the code around signs. He says based on his research, Haines’ sign ordinance violates the First Amendment.
“So these are potential legal liabilities for the borough,” Denker said.
The commission will tackle the first two chapters of Title 2 at its next meeting on March 2. Those chapters deal with borough officers and employees and the code of ethics. The signs ordinance is also on the agenda.
After addressing those two topics, the commission will move to minor offenses.
The “dynamics” of the Haines Assembly show Alaska and the rest of the country how dysfunctional a small group of people can be when they do not even follow the codes they have in place. Speaking to the Assembly, you come across like arrogant spoiled children in your perception of what you choose to dictate as to what “woos” you. I am the father of Bill Seward and could not be more proud of him! The termination of him was unjustified by your own statutes and you know it or at least your lawyers do. You have no idea what a loss you brought upon yourselves and the people of Haines. You are right to review and learn your own government. I was an Alaskan for over 30 years and cherish every single memory except the one the Haines Assembly created for me. I hope you learn to follow your own rules and understand that governing is about leadership and as a group you have shown none and by your record of 11 managers in as many years, you do not really want any.