City and Borough Assembly Special Meeting: Municipal Administrator Applicant Interview - August 21, 2026

The Sitka City and Borough Assembly held a special meeting on August 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM to interview candidates for the Municipal Administrator position. Of the two applicants initially scheduled, Jeremy Marshall withdrew his application prior to the meeting, leaving one candidate, Gerri Cotter, to be interviewed. The interview lasted approximately one hour, followed by an executive session from 6:20 PM to 6:40 PM. The Assembly reconvened and announced by consensus that a second round interview would be scheduled. The meeting adjourned at 6:43 PM.

Municipal Administrator Applicant Interview

• The Assembly interviewed Gerri Cotter via Zoom. Cotter is currently the Township Administrator for Perry Township, Ohio, a community of about 28,000 residents. She has prior experience at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, including managing a statewide workforce development program combining federal funding sources, and has served as a township trustee and school board member.
• Assembly members asked questions covering: qualifications and experience; managing department heads without technical expertise; leading a multi-generational workforce; communication and relationship with the assembly; building public trust and handling contentious situations; budget preparation; evaluating service level trade-offs during tight resources (citing a road funding challenge in Perry Township that led to staff reductions and potential service cuts); community engagement for major changes; collective bargaining experience and philosophy; intergovernmental coordination (e.g., working with county agencies and Ohio EPA); handling public complaints; managing large capital projects (citing school renovation bond in Westerville); management style (described as coaching); stress management; state and federal lobbying efforts (e.g., obtaining state capital funds for parks and annexation reform); workforce development and employee retention; and reasons for applying to Sitka.
• Cotter expressed interest in Sitka's small-town, natural beauty, and community feel. She noted she had reviewed the city's strategic plan and tourism action plan but had not read the general code or charter. She emphasized accessibility, respectful communication, and continuous improvement.

Executive Session and Decision

• A motion was made to enter executive session to discuss subjects that may tend to prejudice the reputation and character of the candidate, and to invite Assistant Municipal Administrator Josh Branthoover while excluding the Municipal Administrator and Municipal Attorney. The motion passed 7-0 (Eisenbeisz, Christianson, Riley, Mosher, Saline, Carlson, Ystad).
• The executive session lasted from 6:20 PM to 6:40 PM.
• Upon reconvening, Mayor Eisenbeisz stated that the Assembly discussed the merits of the applicant and reached consensus to schedule a second round interview. Details will be coordinated with HR, Harrigan Centennial Hall, and the Clerk's Office, and announced to the public.

Key Outcomes

• Jeremy Marshall withdrew from the interview process; no interview conducted.
• Gerri Cotter was interviewed; the Assembly voted unanimously (7-0) to enter executive session for deliberation.
• By consensus, the Assembly decided to offer a second round interview to Gerri Cotter. Scheduling and public notification will follow.