Most of Sitka's administrator search has happened in executive session

Sitka named a sole finalist for municipal administrator in July and scheduled two public receptions for her. Weeks later she was out of the running. On Tuesday the Assembly decides what to do with a different candidate — and part of that conversation may happen behind closed doors.

The search has spent most of its life in executive session. The Assembly screened applicants privately in June. After Jenny Alber's candidacy ended, it interviewed two new applicants, Gerrie Cotter and Jeremy Marshall, at an Aug. 21 special meeting and then closed the doors again. "The Assembly discussed the merits of the applicant and reached consensus to schedule a second round interview," Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz said afterward. That second interview happened by Zoom on Sept. 10.

The Assembly has justified closed sessions in past candidate discussions on the grounds that debating an applicant's merits in public can damage that person's reputation. Tuesday's agenda flags a possible executive session without saying why.

Some of it has gone the other direction. The Assembly directed a community meet-and-greet with Cotter, which the meeting record describes as "allowing community members to observe and provide input."

John Leach continues as administrator while the search runs.

The Assembly meets at 6 pm Tuesday. Also on the agenda: supplemental appropriations for transfer station compactor repairs, disaster response training and the Lincoln Street project; marijuana and liquor license items, including competing applications from Highliner Coffee and Harbor Mountain Brewing; two commission reappointments; and a zoning amendment to encourage accessory dwelling units.

Residents can speak for up to three minutes during either Persons to be Heard period, the first limited to off-agenda items. The meeting is livestreamed and carried on KCAW FM 104.7.