MEA announces Board candidates

Six candidates are running for Matanuska Electric Association’s Board of Directors.  The two individuals selected by MEA’s nominating committee are Catherine “Kit” Jones and Marvin Yoder.

Candidates nominated by petition are Jason Kepler, Lois Lester, Crystal Nygard and Thomas Staudenmaier.

MEA continues to be embroiled in controversy and in-house bickering.  The Board of Directors passed a whisteblower policy last month.

So far 17 complaints have been filed.  The policy allows MEA members, as well as employees, to file complaints.  General Manager Wayne Carmony was the first to file under the new policy.  He filed 4 complaints, which has drawn criticism from the Board of Directors.  His complaints relate directly to Board actions this past year. The Board has been accused, by Carmony and others, of holding secret meetings and not giving adequate public notice for special meetings held.

Due to the vague and mostly anonymous complaints filed, the policy is going back to the drafting table.  The board vote was unanimous for re-crafting the policy.

At the same time, the board members voted down a proposed bylaw change that would strictly limit those serving on the board of directors.  A group comprised of former Board members had gathered enough signatures to put the proposed bylaw change on the April ballot.  However, the Board secretary said he had not seen the petition and the signatures.  The group is now considering filing a court action to get the proposed change in front of voters at the April meeting.

The annual MEA membership meeting is April 25^th at Palmer High School.