The Nome Common Council will hold a special meeting Friday to reconsider its decision to grant a chauffeur’s license to Harold Michael Ahmasuk. The council voted 4-3 Tuesday night to overturn a previous denial of Ahmasuk’s application by city staff.
Council member Scot Henderson, who voted against granting the appeal, confirmed to KNOM that he requested the special meeting Wednesday morning.
In an interview with KNOM Wednesday afternoon, Nome City Manager Lee Smith said he also spoke with several council members that questioned whether they had “all the information” needed to make a decision.
Smith said the city received 27 phone calls regarding the decision, including from people asking when they could address the council. Smith acknowledged that reconsidering a council decision so soon after granting an appeal is highly unusual.
“It’s not usual. I think I’ve only had this a couple of times,” Smith said, referring to his nearly 40 years working in municipal government.
Smith said he spoke with Mayor Kenny Hughes – who cast the deciding vote Tuesday – before scheduling the special meeting.
“I’m the one that has to call a meeting,” Smith said. “I did call the mayor, and he agreed. He said, ‘Well, if we need to talk about it, we need to talk about it.’”
Although the council voted to grant Ahmasuk’s appeal, Smith confirmed that the city has not issued him a chauffeur’s license. Smith said he plans to withhold the license until the council can reconsider the matter Friday.
“I basically have held the chauffeur’s license. This has to be settled,” Smith said.
Smith, who supported the original denial, cited public safety concerns in explaining his position.
“Our first job is to keep people safe,” Smith said.
The special meeting is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16, at noon. Smith confirmed the meeting will include an opportunity for public comment. KNOM will livestream the meeting on its Facebook and YouTube pages.
Editor’s note: This story was substantially updated at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14 to reflect the city’s decision to hold a special meeting Friday to reconsider Ahmasuk’s appeal. The original story, published earlier in the day, remains below to provide context on the council’s initial decision and the discussion that led to it.
Original story:
The Nome Common Council voted 4-3 Tuesday night to overturn the city’s denial of a chauffeur’s license for Harold Michael Ahmasuk, who was convicted of sexually abusing a minor more than 40 years ago.
Ahmasuk was convicted of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor in April 1985. He was 30-years-old at the time of the offense, according to Alaska Court System records. Ahmasuk pleaded no contest to the charge.
Nome City Clerk Dan Grimmer denied Ahmasuk’s chauffeur’s license application on Oct. 1, citing a city ordinance that prohibits issuing licenses to people convicted of felony offenses against another person. The denial letter directed Ahmasuk to cease and desist driving a taxi immediately.
Grimmer defended the decision during Monday’s meeting, saying the ordinance leaves city officials no choice.
Watch a replay of the discussion:
“The code is clear that it shall be denied, as it states in the code the charges that are non-negotiable are offenses against persons,” Grimmer said.
Ahmasuk appealed the denial in a handwritten letter dated Oct. 6, which formally brought the matter before the council.
During discussion, council member Adam Lust questioned whether Nome’s licensing requirements were too restrictive compared to state regulations governing rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. He noted that state regulations generally look back seven years for certain convictions, while Nome’s ordinance does not define a time limit for disqualifying felony convictions involving crimes against a person.
In the city's denial letter, Grimmer also pointed out that Ahmasuk’s conviction for sexual abuse of a minor “does not have a statute of limitations.”
During public comment earlier in the meeting, taxi operator Steven Longley said Ahmasuk has worked for him for years. Longley claimed Nome Police Chief Mike Heintzelman had already approved Ahmasuk’s application “months ago” and argued that the city’s licensing ordinance contains conflicting requirements.
“What I ask you guys tonight to do is overturn the denial by whichever staff improperly denied it, and that way Mike [Ahmasuk] can get back to work,” Longley said.
Councilmembers Kohren Green, Adam Martinson and Randy Oles voted yes on granting the appeal. Councilmembers Scot Henderson, Mark Johnson and Adam Lust voted no, splitting the vote 3-3. Mayor Kenny Hughes looked down at his meeting packet for 13 seconds, then cast the deciding yes vote to grant the appeal.
