The Skagway Borough Assembly met Thursday night in Assembly Chambers.
The Assembly passed an ordinance to create a paid fire chief position. Some assembly members were concerned the paid fire chief position does not fully address the department’s response issues.
“It doesn’t solve problem of lack of response from last summer,” Assemblymember Steve Burnham said. “We would still have volunteer responders. Can’t guarantee a volunteer is going to respond. If one of the reasons we’re hiring a paid fire chief is to increase response that just adds one guaranteed responder.”
He suggested exploring ideas like paid or seasonal responders and expressed concern about moving forward without a written plan. Assemblymember Dan Henry said he agreed with the concerns raised, but thinks the paid position is a first step to addressing the issue.
It answers the question discussed at the last several Public Safety meetings which was that everyone at the meetings was in agreement that we need to go back to a paid full-time fire chief, Henry said. “Now the direction this person gives to the department would be part and parcel of what you’re talking about and how we’re going to better respond. This is an elementary step into that area.”
Most of the assembly agreed: the ordinance passed with four yeses and two noes.
The vote on an ordinance to prohibit parking of commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs on certain streets was postponed until February 21st. The city attorney and the police department do not believe it is enforceable as written. Their concern is that certain privately owned vehicles will exceed the weight limit and commercial drivers may struggle to find parking for lunch breaks and other pit stops.
The Skagway Assembly will meet again January 24th to conduct in-person interviews for a new borough manager.
