Unalaska, AK – This week's city council meeting saw heated debate about the status of the community support program.

While most other aspects of the budget have been settled, council was split on how non-profit funding should be doled out. This year, available non-profit funding has dropped from $960,000 to $790,000. Additionally, one non-profit, Iliuliuk Family and Health Services has faced scrutiny of their grant request because of financial management and hiring and licensure issues. IFHS's behavioral health services department has traditionally received approximately $150,000 from the city for staffing costs. But now, the department is without a full-time clinician, and the department's director resigned after public complaints were made about his lack of an Alaska license to practice.

Council member Zac Schasteen introduced a motion that would fund all the other non-profits at their requested levels, while holding funding for IFHS' behavioral health services. He cited precedent for delaying the funding of a non-profit until they receive additional oversight, using last year's financial irregularities with the Convention and Visitors Bureau as an example.

That motion failed, with Schasteen, Roger Rowland, and Katherine McGlashan voting in favor of it. Dennis Robinson and Dick Peck voted against it. Dave Gregory was absent.

Robinson argued that cutting IFHS behavioral health services funding altogether would be a mistake and that it would be better to provide support to the clinic as they redevelop that program.

Robinson later introduced a different motion that would fund all non-profits, but at a reduced level. This motion also failed, with Robinson and Peck, voting in favor and the rest of the council members voting against.

For portions of the meeting Peck spoke not as a council member, but as president of the IFHS board of directors. He argued that the clinic is working on re-staffing the behavioral health program, and invited Alena Syverson, a fellow IFHS board member and Oonalaska Wellness Center staff member, to speak to IFHS' close relationship with the Wellness Center and their collaborative work in providing mental health services to the community.

IFHS Executive Director Sonia Handforth-Kome also spoke in defense of the behavioral health services department. She explained that the program would survive, but patients' bills would grow.

Ultimately, the status of the community support program went unresolved and there will likely be a special work session to discuss the matter in the coming week.

In addition to discussing the community support program, council also heard a presentation about the rates for the Carl E. Moses small boat harbor. Because of discrepancies with the Spit Dock rates, council will be discussing the matter further in future meetings.

Council also passed a motion introduced by Schasteen that would increase funding for the scholarship program for Unalaska high schoolers from $25,000 to $35,000 on account of growing class size.

Council wrapped up in executive session for an update on dealings with the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency. They also discussed union negotiations with IBU ports employees.

Public hearing is scheduled to take place on the budget on May 21.