Wrangell Sentinel -

The borough assembly has narrowed a field of 14 applicants for the position of borough manager down to five, according to members of the assembly.

The borough assembly met last Thursday in executive session to consider the applications, no action was taken in open session.

The names of the remaining applicants aren’t in the public domain yet to protect their professional standing at their existing jobs. However, two local applicants who have admitted in public to pursing the position – interim manager and finance director Jeff Jabusch and former assembly member Christie Jamieson – are still in the running for the position, according to Mayor David L. Jack.

“We did narrow it down,” he said. “We’re going to the next phase, which will essentially be a background check of the remaining applicants.”

The field of candidates for the position was both impressive and anemic, Jack said.

“We had a few very good-looking applicants, and some people just looking for a job,” he said.

The next step in the process beyond the background check is up to the assembly, Jack said, though he anticipated the search would conclude in the next month. A list of finalists for the position could eventually be made public.

Jabusch has served as interim borough manager since Aug. 6. The assembly officially accepted the resignation of the previous manager, Tim Rooney, June 25. The borough accepted applications for the position until Sept. 20.

The job pays an annual salary between $80,184 and $111,093, depending on experience. The position includes benefits.