Bristol Bay Borough Assembly offers interim manager post to Reese Winters and appoints negotiating committee

The Bristol Bay Borough Assembly voted to offer the position of interim borough manager to candidate Reese Winters and appointed a two-member negotiating committee to settle terms, the assembly said at a special meeting on April 24.

The action followed an executive session called to discuss candidates for interim borough manager. Chair (speaker S1) reported after the closed meeting that “no action was taken in executive session, but we have decided to offer Reese Winters the position of interim manager.” The assembly then moved and approved a formal motion to offer Winters the job.

The assembly also approved appointing Russell Phelps and Rob Babiak as a negotiating committee to meet with Winters ‘‘as early as Monday’’ to negotiate the terms of the interim agreement. Chair said the committee was appointed by voice vote and announced the motions carried.

During the public input period, local resident Pete Caruso urged the assembly to impose explicit limits on the interim manager’s authority. "Some things I want you to consider is limitations on the interim manager, what they can do. Access to personal records, contracts... hiring, firing of people," Caruso said, adding that an interim could be in place for several months.

Mary Swain, speaking as a private citizen, echoed those concerns and warned that prior decisions in a similar situation had led to "multiple state and federal investigations." She urged assembly members to take human-resources training before making personnel decisions and said she had received confidential information she could not publicly disclose. "I really do think you should consider limitations of what you allow your interim manager to do... We got into some very hot water," Swain said.

Assembly proceedings recorded that a motion to move into executive session had passed earlier in the meeting under the exception for discussions that could "prejudice the reputation and character of any person," with the assembly stating candidates could be invited back individually. Chair emphasized that no binding employment contract was concluded at the closed session; the negotiating committee was directed to finalize terms with Winters.

The record includes a citizen note that the borough manager may have delegated contracting authority up to $100,000 without additional assembly approval; that dollar figure was raised during public comment as a reason to limit an interim manager’s contract authority. The assembly did not specify contract limits in the meeting itself and left negotiation of terms to the appointed committee.

The negotiating committee is expected to begin talks with Reese Winters promptly and report back; the assembly took no other formal personnel actions and adjourned after hearing public comment.