Palmer Council eyes deputy to replace ousted clerk

What you need to know:

• The Palmer City Council last week unanimously appointed Deputy City Clerk Benji Johnson as acting city clerk, with plans to negotiate a full-time contract and official promotion to the role later this month.
• City Clerk Shelly Acteson was terminated early this month by council members over accusations of unfair treatment and her handling of a recent recall election. She will receive about $15,000 in severance and a payout for accrued leave.
• Johnson joined the city in 2023 and has 30 years of government experience. The city will likely hire a new deputy clerk once her appointment is finalized.

PALMER – A key role in Palmer city government left vacant when the council terminated City Clerk Shelly Acteson earlier this month will likely be filled by Deputy Clerk Benji Johnson, council members said last week.

The council voted unanimously during a regular meeting Tuesday to temporarily appoint Johnson as acting city clerk. A closed-door session with Johnson to negotiate a full-time contract and promotion to the clerk position is scheduled for later this month.

“This is a surprise -- I wasn’t expecting that,” she told the council. “I’m willing to take on that role. I’m willing to take on the responsibility.”

The city will likely hire a new deputy clerk following Johnson’s promotion, officials said.

Palmer’s clerk oversees a range of high-level municipal tasks dictated by city law, including administering elections and managing city records. The position is one of three that report directly to the council and can be hired or fired by a vote of the council members. The other two are the city manager and city attorney.

Johnson joined the city as deputy clerk in 2023 but has worked in government for about 30 years, she said during the meeting. She worked for the Wasilla City Council and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough before joining the city of Palmer, according to city documents.

While Johnson does not yet hold a Certified Municipal Clerk designation, she has already completed all of the education and experience requirements and is currently working to submit them for review to the organization that oversees the program, she told the council. The certification is not required under city law.

Acteson was terminated during a special council meeting earlier this month in a 4-0 vote, just hours after she submitted her resignation. Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington and council members Ken Erbey and Jim Cooper were absent from the meeting and did not vote.

Acteson will be paid about $15,000 in severance by the city, plus a payout of accrued leave, according to her contract.

Her resignation and termination followed months of increasing tension between Acteson and some council members, who said she treated certain members unfairly. Some were also concerned about her handling of a special recall election for Carrington. Acteson said she acted in accordance with city and state law.

-- Contact Amy Bushatz at contact@matsusentinel.com