By John Gallup
GBOS Member
As most people now know, I was removed from the Girdwood Board of Supervisors on May 14 by the Mayor after an ethics complaint had been filed against me by another GBOS member. I had served two years on the Board, the last year as its Chair. As of June 12, I have been reinstated by the Assembly to fill out the remainder of my term on the Board.
I would like to take a few minutes to explain exactly what happened.
By running for the GBOS in 2005, I was unknowingly in violation of two separate parts of municipal code that work together in concert.
The first part is in the Municipal Charter. This classifies Anchorage School District employees as Municipal employees. I was, as I have said, unaware of this. It is counterintuitive because the ASD has it’s own separate elected governing body to which all ASD employees answer (the School Board), its own entirely separate chain of command, and an almost separate budget process (the Assembly does check off on the ASD budget).
The second part is in the Municipal Ethics code, and that states that Municipal employees may not run for election to service area boards (the GBOS is one of these), however the Mayor can, at his or her discretion, appoint municipal employees to these boards. It is the “appointment clause” which has allowed at least two other ASD teachers that I am aware of to serve legally in the past.
Once I was removed, the Board solicited resumes to fill my seat, and I sent one to them (it is legal for a teacher to be appointed.) They chose to recommend another person to fill my seat, as is their right to do, but the Mayor has decided to appoint me, which he has a right to do. While I never spoke with the Mayor, I did speak with many friends and neighbors who interceded with the Mayor and the Assembly on my behalf, and it was these efforts which appear to have succeeded. I would like to think that my job performance was adequate, as well. My heartfelt thanks to each of you.
I am encouraged by the fact that four months ago we couldn’t find anyone interested in filing for either of the two open GBOS seats that we had, and since then we have had a large number of folks stick their hands up and express interest. I encourage each of you to “keep your hand in” and file for one of the three seats that will be elected next April. The filing period will be in late January. I would also encourage everyone interested in serving Girdwood in this way to come to the GBOS meetings and participate. There is a lot of interesting change coming our way, and now is the time to get involved.
Everyone that I have talked to on the Assembly, and most importantly here in Girdwood seem to feel that there is no ethics conflict with a teacher serving on the GBOS. The Assembly Ethics Committee has agreed to hear the matter, and I am encouraged to hear that an adjustment in the Ethics Code may be forthcoming shortly that will allow me or any ASD employee to run for a seat on the GBOS. If these changes do occur, I will most likely file in January myself and run to retain my appointed seat in the April 2008 election.
Finally, I would like to again thank the many friends and neighbors who have called, emailed, or stopped by to thank me for my service, and to those who called and emailed the Assembly and the Mayor. This has been a trying month, made tougher by the effort to close one school and open another one while this was going on. Your friendship has sustained me.
This event reminds me again of one of Girdwood’s best qualities: our collective ability to speak and listen to each other (civil discourse) and to work together to solve problems and to plan the future.
To the Editor:
Thank you to William Welch for the time he served Girdwood and its residents as a State Trooper. Having worked alongside him many times as a former member of the Girdwood Fire Department., I know I would want him present if a family member or friend were ever in serious need. He was respectful, humane, fair, and good at his job. Whatever prejudices he may have had, he kept them in check, served the community, and whether he knew it or not, was an example to myself and others to try and do the same.
Good luck to him in the future.
Matt Shields
Girdwood
To the Editor:
Never underestimate the power of 10 women (average age 50) when they want to accomplish something. Girdwood Beautification (GWB) thanks the following powerful women who turned out to clean up the flower planters and beds on May 12. We are grateful to: Kathleen Belmont, Louise Bjornstad, Betty Charnon, Liz Dow, Ginny Grupp, Marie Martin (for all those phone calls), Catherine McDermott, Cindy Nielsen Maggie Donnely, Alison Rein and Jean the Bean. You go girls!
We’d also like to than Dave Sears going organic in his garden and donating his inorganic fertilizers; to Kerry Dorius for work gloves; to Susan Opalka for her ongoing involvement in GWB; and to Jonnie Lazarus, MOA-Parks and Rec, for superior coordination with the Muni.
Flowers arrive from the Muni June 5 and our site volunteer adopters will have them planted out by the following weekend for your viewing enjoyment. So, when you jog by and see a volunteer tending the planters, say ‘thanks’ for making Girdwood a more beautiful place to live and visit.
Carol Sanner
GWB Coordinator
To the Editor:
Girdwood residents, a lot of volunteers spent six hours a couple of sundays ago cleaning the little league ball park here in Girdwood, we went to practice and there were 5 piles of dog poop on the field . If you use the field to run your dog that is fine but pick up after it, our kids on the little league should not have to wipe your dogs crap off their shoes when they play ball because you are such a crappy dog owner that you can not pick up after you dog.
Do the right thing for once and pick it up.
Nicholas Danger
Girdwood
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