ignite board: No raise for Berns

COEUR d'ALENE — The executive director of Coeur d'Alene's urban renewal agency, ignite cda, will not receive a raise in the upcoming fiscal year.

Instead, following an executive session of ignite's board of commissioners on Tuesday, the board voted unanimously in favor of paying for the increase to Tony Berns' medical insurance plan. The move echoes that of the previous fiscal year. Mayor Steve Widmyer, who also serves as a commissioner, told The Press the increase is approximately $2,400.

"All of the other terms of his contract are the same," Widmyer added.

Berns, who was hired as the agency's first executive director in 2001, is currently employed under a five-year contract. The contract is set to expire in October 2017.

For the 2013 fiscal year, Berns was paid $128,200 as the agency's only employee. He earned raises the following two fiscal years, making $131,404 and $135,346, respectively.

Berns' salary was not increased during last year's decision on his compensation package; instead the agency chose to cover his medical insurance through the same provider the city of Coeur d'Alene uses.

During the meeting, ignite's board also voted unanimously on the appointment of a new chair and vice chair for the upcoming year. Commissioner Scott Hoskins, who worked with Verizon for 33 years in the Northwest and Alaska as well as designed and implemented a literacy program for Coeur d'Alene public schools, was named chair of the board.

Hoskins will take over the duties of board chair from Commissioner Denny Davis, who held the position for multiple years.

Recently appointed Commissioner Alivia Metts, owner of the Metts Group and former regional economist for the Idaho Department of Labor, was named vice chair of the board. Metts will replace former Commissioner Dave Patzer, who announced his resignation from the board in August and had served as a commissioner for 20 years.

"It's great to have these commissioners step up into these leadership roles," Berns said following the decision. "I think they'll do a great job."