Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

The Haines Borough Assembly gave borough manager Annette Kreitzer “above average” marks in an evaluation nine months into her job.

The evaluation leaves the assembly poised to extend Kreitzer’s contract through September 2024.

Assembly member Caitie Kirby said at a Tuesday personnel committee meeting she has seen “steady, gradual improvement” in Kreitzer’s job performance since her three-month evaluation. Assembly member Cheryl Stickler said she thinks — and has heard from other residents — that Kreitzer is “knocking it out of the park.”

Two assembly member evaluations said Kreitzer “exceeded standards” while three gave her “outstanding” marks, Haines Borough Mayor Doulgas Olerud said.

Kreitzer’s average score topped four out of five in most categories. She was given a five by all assembly members for communication.

Only one assembly member — Debra Schnabel, who served as borough manager for two years before being fired by the assembly in 2020 — discussed room for improvement at Tuesday’s meeting. She called Kreitzer “very competent,” “very thorough” and “very engaged” but said she could do a better job bringing items before the assembly before moving ahead with them.

As an example, Schnabel noted Kreitzer’s recent decision to end discussions with Alaska Indian Arts about acquiring the Fort Seward Parade Grounds without explicit assembly direction. Assembly member Paul Rogers defended Kreitzer’s decision, saying he recalls assembly members expressing concerns about a potential acquisition of the Parade Grounds.

Rogers also praised Kreitzer’s handling of recent negotiations with the borough’s employee union. “I think Ms. Kreitzer did an exceptional job holding us together as an employer unit,” he said.

In 2020, the CVN reported that Haines hired a new borough manager every 1.8 years, on average, since 2002. During that same time period, other Southeast municipalities averaged a new manager every three to six years.

Kreitzer started the job last October. A retired Juneau resident, she had spent 18 years working as an aide and chief of staff in the legislature and as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration.

“I’m very thankful that we were able to get Annette on board,” Olerud said.