City names some administrator finalists
SANDPOINT — Arlene Fisher-Maurer and David Sawyer are among the five finalists interviewed for the city administrator position is Sandpoint.
The names were released following a public records request filed with the city of Sandpoint on Oct. 22.
In its response, the city stated personnel information cannot be released without a written consent, citing Title 74, transparent and ethical government, Chapter 1, public records act. They received consent from Fisher-Maurer and Sawyer.
“We have not received consent from the other candidates pursuant to the above-cited Idaho statute,” the city response to the public records request stated.
The Bonner County Daily Bee requested the names of the top five finalists via a public records request, also under Title 74, Chapter 1. Under the act, only candidates of merit system positions can be withheld. The city response to the request for information did not specify the position as merit based. The Daily Bee filed another public records request Tuesday asking for the full job description for the city administrator, as well as the compensation plan to include how bonuses and raises will be given.
According to Idaho Code, names of the five final applicants to all other positions shall be available to the public. If such group is less than five finalists, then the entire list of applicants shall be available to the public. A public official or authorized representative may inspect and copy his personnel records, except for material used to screen and test for employment.
“The city has a responsibility to cite reasons for denial of an information request,” said Daily Bee Publisher Jim McKiernan. “To date we have not received any specific details as to why they will not release all five names. If the position is merit based then give the public the compensation plan that outlines pay for performance.
“I hope the new mayor feels a stronger obligation to include the public in government than the outgoing mayor has shown in her actions.”
Fisher-Maurer is the city manager of Mountlake Terrace, Wash. Mountlake Terrace has a population of more than 20,000.
A former Sandpoint mayor, Sawyer is the current city administrator for Turner, Ore., which has a population of about 1,800.
Mayor Carrie Logan told The Bee on Oct. 21, that they were interviewing their fifth finalist on Oct. 22. She said each candidate was asked a series of 25 questions, to which she did not respond when asked what the questions involved. The interview process lasts about an hour and a half.
The committee is made up of Logan, and current council members Shelby Rognstad and Shannon Williamson, former city council member and local attorney Steve Snedden, Will Harrington, former city attorney, and Coeur d'Alene city administrator Jim Hammond. Logan said the committee will choose one or more applicants to present to the council during a November council meeting, either Nov. 4 or 18.
The city administrator will make more than $101,868, coming from the general, water and sewer funds.
City treasurer Shannon Syth said the money has always been for payroll and benefits. It had been spent on a penalty the city paid since 1978, for the deficit in the firefighter retirement fund. This year, the fund is almost fully funded, reducing the amount for the city penalty to about 5 percent. These funds will pay for the city administrator, Syth said.