BETHEL -- The city council here, still regrouping after firing its city manager in May, on Wednesday was ready to move forward and offer the job to a former parks and recreation official from New Mexico.
But council members were disappointed when their top candidate – the only one flown to Bethel for an up-close look -- asked to have until Friday to decide. The City Council offered Walt Bratton an annual salary of $110,000 and agreed to pay $5,500 in moving expenses.
Bratton, 44, this year left his post in the parks department in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He also previously worked as a midlevel parks manager in Phoenix and holds two master's degrees, according to city officials. Bratton declined to release his resume. City Clerk Lori Strickland said it was a public record but she had to follow city policy before release and that would take a few days.
Bratton said he was excited about the possibility of working in Bethel but wanted to do his "due diligence."
"It's been a whirlwind," Bratton said. He was in Bethel only a couple of days.
Rick Robb, Bethel's vice mayor, said the council had been hoping for an answer right away. He asked whether Bratton had concerns the city needed to address. Bratton said he didn't. "I've got a lot of reading to do," he said.
Interim city manager Greg Moyer -- formerly the city of Anchorage's ombudsman, or official government watchdog -- said about 25 people applied, including one or two from Bethel, and that a number of them were interviewed, some multiple times, through teleconferences or Skype. Moyer didn't apply.
The City Council in May fired then-City Manager Lee Foley in the midst of an investigation into violations of nepotism and procurement codes. The investigation, led by an Anchorage attorney, found improperly awarded contracts, special agreements and violations of the city's nepotism rule.
Foley admitted some violations but said his decisions were intended for the good of the city. The council since has been working to clarify and improve its laws.
An Alaska State Troopers investigation into the city management issues was sent to the Bethel District Attorney's office.
"No charges will result from that investigation," District Attorney June Stein said Wednesday in an email.
The Southwest Alaska community has 6,300 residents. The city manager oversees about 110 employees and a general fund budget of about $11 million.