Kodiak council members back interim manager Putney for permanent job ahead of Thursday vote

Five Kodiak City Council members said Tuesday they want interim City Manager Tim Putney hired as permanent manager over 27 other applicants. A sixth, Rich Walker, said the council should move forward. The council can take up a formal offer at its regular meeting Thursday; work sessions take no formal action.

The manager is Kodiak's chief administrative officer and one of two contract employees who work directly for the council. Putney, the police chief, has led city administration as interim manager since May 30. The draft employment agreement in Thursday's packet sets a $200,000 annual salary.

The city attorney advised Oct. 29 that the council could offer Putney the job without interviews. Council members first reviewed all 28 applications.

The council had paused manager selection until after the Oct. 6 municipal election, partly because of a ballot proposition on where the manager may live. Voters approved expanding that area beyond city limits. In 2024, voters rejected a proposition, 385 to 273, that would have allowed the manager to live within 12 road miles of city boundaries.

"I really think that interim manager Tim Putney is really the best of the applicants that we have, and I personally think that it is not a best investment of our time to draw out the process further," Council Member Djuna Davidson said.

Charles Davidson said none of the other applicants he found viable had municipal experience. He noted that the city of about 5,200 people has two airports and three docks, and said he would propose hiring Putney Thursday. Nick Mangini said passing up the opportunity would be "remiss." Sandra West said she would like to hire Putney, and Jose Calderon said his review of the applications found Putney the best candidate.

City resident Seema Garoutte argued voters already signaled their choice by expanding where a manager may live. "I don't think that you guys need to waste your time with the other 28 applicants," she said. Djuna Davidson said the residency vote was about more than Putney and would help future hiring. Mangini said the change was in motion before Putney became interim manager.

City Clerk Brandy Warnecke said the draft agreement already names Putney, based on council direction Oct. 29. The baseline terms came from council discussions in March or April, she said. West asked about the timing of performance reviews and whether the city would pay for gas for the manager's city car. Warnecke recommended holding further questions until Thursday, when the city attorney will attend.

Thursday's agenda also lists a closed executive session. The council would use it only if Putney wants to negotiate terms, to set its own position with the attorney before returning to public session.