HomeMy WebLinkAbout20174146.tiffMINUTES
WELD COUNTY COUNCIL
October 16, 2017
The Weld County Council met in regular session in full conformity with the Weld County Home
Rule Charter at 6:30 p.m., Monday, October 16, 2017, at the Weld County Administration Building,
1150 0 Street, Greeley, CO.
,ROLL CALL
El The meeting was called to order by President Brett Abernathy. Councilmen Michael Grillos,
Jordan Jemiola, Charles Tucker and Gene Stillewere present, constituting a quorum of members.
Also present was County Attorney Bruce Barker and County Council Secretary Linda Kane.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA :
Councilman Abernathy asked to move Resolution 210 from New Business to Approval of
Documentation in case Councilman Grillos had to leave the meeting early due to illness. The
motion was made by Councilman Stille, seconded by Councilman Grillos, and carried.
Councilman Stille made a motion to read a response to a newspaper article by Dale Hall in place
of Resolution 210, it was seconded by Councilman Abernathy, and carried.
APPROVAL OF DOCUMENTATION:
Approval of September 18, 2017, Minutes
Councilman Grillos made a motion to approve the January minutes, seconded by Councilman
Jemiola, and the motion carried.
Resolution 210 — Opposition for Ballot Initiative 1A
Councilman Grillos made a motion to approve Resolution 210, it was seconded by Councilman
Jemiola and unanimously in a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Dave Kisker, of Johnstown, offered thanks to the Council for voting against 1A. He advised that once
Council wins, they come back in November and get past "the nonsense."
Sherrie Peif, of Greeley, stated there was an inaccuracy in the Mountain States Report regarding
the behavior of Commissioner Sean Conway. Peif was said to have refused to return phone calls
and she denied that accusation.
NEW BUSINESS:
Councilman Abernathy thanked the constituents at the meeting in opposition to ballot issue 1A. He
called it a form of bad government from the four commissioners who voted to put it on the ballot.
(Commissioner Sean Conway was the dissenting vote.) He said it was retribution to the Council for
doing its job.
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Coordinator Reports/Councilman Reports
Councilman Stille talked with constituents about the role of Council. He said he directs
constituents often on where to obtain information they're seeking for specific problems or
concerns.
Councilman Tucker said he's noticed a lot of political signs in support of 1A stating the measure
would get rid of unnecessary government. He said that's untrue, however, because the state
would take over where the Council left off.
Councilman Jordan expressed his disagreement with the four commissioners who voted on the
1A ballot measure. He said they violated their oath of office. He said they acted too hastily,
getting the measure on the ballot in a month's time.
Councilman Abernathy said he was invited to a rally on the courthouse steps where several
elected officials voice opposition to 1A.
Bills
Councilman Grillos made a motion to approve bills; it was seconded by Councilman Tucker and
carried.
o Weld County Phone Bill for September $18.44
Legal notice - Greeley Tribune -19t quarter RTTP $22.98
Statement read by Gene Stille
Councilman Stille said he appreciates the non -biased articles in the Greeley Tribune by reporter
Tyler Silvy. He read a response to an article by Dale Hall in the Oct. 8 edition of the Tribune which
blasted the Council as being useless.
"I would like to respond to the Guest Columnist, Dale Hall, in the Friday's Greeley Tribune p. 8. To
start with, ik am offended that he would use the term "We The People" as a committee title. That
is a term that should e restricted to the first three words of the Constitution of the United States
which represents ALL the people of the U.S., not just a minor few in Weld County.
Secondly, it IS an oversight committee which has several areas of responsibilities which include:
1. Set salaries of elected county officials.
2. Fill vacancies on the Board of County Commissioners and on the Weld County
Council.
3. May suspend an elected official formally charged or indicted for the commission of
a crime or when a valid petition for recall of an elected official is presented.
4. Review conflicts of interest between any county officer, member of an appointed
board, or employee, and any enterprise or organization doing business with Weld
County.
5. To consider requests from the Board of County Commissioners to grant an
increased mill levy.
6.
Even in today's Greeley Tribune, a County Commissioner, Julie Cozad, relied on the County
Council "in a twist of fate, Cozad's primary argument —that the state has no authority to review
this complaint — relies heavily on the existence of the Weld county Council..." (Italics mine).
As can be seen from the above, they DO have authority to effect change.
It was because the County Council, Weld went from two term limits to three term limits. And Weld
went from a Category III county to a Category I county.
The implication of a council being sexist, i.e. "all -male council" is ludicrous on its face. Many
women have been on the council and many women are in Weld's government.
How does the county council cost the citizens money when council members are not paid? It was
the commissioners, encouraged by 'We The People" to put the issue of disbanding the council on
the ballot at a cost of $150,000. And the $75,000 budget is to do audits in the future that the
BOCC may or may not see fit to perform, and is not for the council.
And finally "The people will watch over our county elected officials", but the people have been
intimidated, in the past, to do nothing but watch. I know of many incidences with past electeds that
that is exactly what happened. For me, it is a pleasure working the electeds we presently have
and in the case of our Assessor, I hate to see him termed as he is one of the finest in the state.
Weld county residents can feel more comfortable coming to a councilman or woman on line or off
line and getting their issue resolved. I work with constituents almost weekly and provide
information as what department they can go to. I'm sure other councilmen do as well.
Even reading Ballot Question 1A should give the voters pause and ask themselves "do I really
want to change all these Sections in the Charter and disband an Oversight committee?" The
answer should be an emphatic NO.
Consequently, I am in favor of keeping the Weld County Council and strongly encourage the
voters to vote NO on ballot issue 1A."
Councilman Grillos said the $75,000 Council budget fluctuated up this year on account of the
$50,000 audit expenses. He said typically the Council spends very little.
Councilman Abernathy made a motion to support Councilman Stille's statement, seconded by
Councilman Tucker, and carried.
Recommendation for an Audit Response Committee
Councilman Abernathy made a motion to table this item until the November meeting, seconded
by Councilman Grillos, and carried.
Discussion regarding Commissioner Sean Conway
Councilman Tucker discussed the Mountain States investigation regarding Commissioner
Conway. He said an independent investigation may be necessary.
Councilman Grillos agreed with Councilman Tucker. He said questions about Commissioner Julie
Cozad's ethics could also require an inquiry by a non -biased party.
Councilman Stille said it was interesting the state had no authority to review the ethics complaint
regarding Commissioner Cozad. He said he doesn't fully understand the six allegations against
Commissioner Conway and it's incumbent of the Council to investigate.
Councilman Tucker suggested a third party investigation since Council has $25,000 budgeted next
year and it's part of the Council's job.
Councilman Abernathy asked County Attorney Bruce Barker what the procedure would be to
review ethics and where Council could find an independent party to make the investigation.
Attorney Barker said Council would undertake the same process it did for the audits of the
Commissioners and Clerk & Recorders office.
Councilman Stille said the ethics issue has been ongoing since February and he'd like to see it put
to rest.
Councilman Grillos asked whether training could be provided to commissioners or employees who
were found to be lacking in a particular skill. He also said he believes Commissioner Conway
"barked" at employees, but asked if that's an actionable offense.
Councilman Grilles said Judge Taylor ruled the allegations of misconduct regarding Commissioner
Conway were found to have no merit.
Councilman Abernathy made a motion that a Resolution be drafted and approved by Council
regarding the allegations of ethics violations regarding Commissioner Cozad and allegations of
workplace misconduct regarding Commissioner Conway, that Council has reviewed both issues
and found no further action by Council is necessary. A roll call vote showed all ayes in favor of
drafting a resolution, with Councilman Tucker opposing.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no old business.
ADJOURNMENT:
By acclamation, the meeting was adjourned at 7:32p.m.
November 13, 2017
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uriceOresident,, Brett N?ernathy
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Council Secretary, Linda Kane
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