Sitka Assembly to interview municipal administrator applicant Gerrie Cotter on Sept. 10

Sitka's search for a new municipal administrator, the official who runs the city's daily operations, hiring, budget and public works, moves into a second-round interview next week. The City and Borough of Sitka Assembly will interview applicant Gerrie Cotter by Zoom at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, in Assembly Chambers at 330 Harbor Drive. The Assembly will then take up two follow-on items, one on the interview itself and one on the broader recruitment. Both are listed as possible executive session items, meaning the Assembly may close part of the discussion to the public.

Cotter's second interview follows an Aug. 21 special meeting, where Cotter emerged as the sole remaining candidate for the position after a fellow finalist withdrew. The Assembly met in executive session afterward and agreed to schedule the Sept. 10 interview.

The search has run through more than one round this year. Alaska News previously covered Sitka's naming of Jenny Alber as sole finalist, with community receptions held at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Alber is no longer in the running. An August Alaska News article described the Assembly starting over with two new candidates, and executive sessions have also been used to screen applicants since then.

The agenda for the Sept. 10 meeting includes Cotter's redacted application. It gives no count of remaining applicants.

On the agenda, the interview and discussion items come before "Persons to be Heard," where residents may speak on any item, on or off the agenda, for up to three minutes. That means the Assembly's discussion and any direction on the interview will happen before, not after, the public weighs in.