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MINUTES
WELD COL!NdTY COUNCIL
February 7, 1978 Ftgij w
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The Weld County Council met in regular session in full D0'
conformity with the Weld County Home Rule Charter at
915 10th Street, Greeley, Colorado, February 7, 1978
at the hour of 9 A.M.
ROLL CALL: The following members were present:
Bob White, President
Robert Martin, Councilmember
John Martin, Councilmember
Also present: Mr. Jenkins; Elected officials Leonard Roe,
Norman Carlson, Ed Dunbar, Herb Hansen, Mary Ann Feuerstein,
Sheriff Bower, and Mike Loustalet; Observer for the League
of Women Voters, Bev Brown; 5 members of the press; 2
citizen observers; and the secretary, Beverly Thomas.
MINUTES: John Martin made a motion that the January 17, 1978 and
the January 20, 1978 minutes be approved. Bob Martin seconded
the motion and it passed unanimously.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Bob Martin made a motion that the Council go
into Executive Session to hear a report from Mr. Jenkins,
Performance Auditor. John Martin seconded the motion and it
passed unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE: Bob White read a letter from the Charter Revision
Committee regarding a proposed charter amendment which will set
a date for determining elected officials' salaries. He
mentioned Resolutions received from the County Commissioners
regarding personnel procedures and the hiring of Mr. Jenkins.
AUCTION REPORT FROM MR. JENKINS: John Martin made a motion that the
Council examine the final auction report prepared by Mr. Jenkins
at the next meeting, and that the Council make the report public
at that time with copies sent to the County Commissioners. Bob
Martin seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
SALARIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS: Bob White read a legal opinion written
by DA Bob Miller on April 26, 1976 regarding the Council setting
the salaries of elected officials. He stated that the Council
had copies of a list of the salaries of appointed County Depart-
ment heads as well as information from the state legislature
regarding salaries of elected officials in other counties. Members
of the audience were invited to speak on the issue of salary-
setting. Herb Hansen pointed out that the salaries set for county
officials by the state legislature were allowed to increase or
decrease by 15% by approval of the local Board of County
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February 7, 19.y
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Commissioners. Furthermore, he also stated that because the final
responsibility for departments rests with the elected officials it
did not make sense that those in appointive positions should
receive higher salaries than the elected officials.
Mr. Hansen stated that Adams County has taken steps to make the
15% increase for their officials effective at the beginning of
their new terms. (No one at this moment is receiving the 15% raise.)
He felt that Weld County should be compared with Adams County
because Weld has similar assessments to those in Adams County.
Also, although the population of Weld is not as great as that of
Adams, the area of Weld County is greater.
It was pointed out that Weld County was the only County that had
fulltime County Commissioners, as well as having five rather than
three Commissioners. Mr. Carlson stated that he actually receives
$13.00 a check less take-home pay this year than he received last
year and inflation must be considered beyond that. Mr. Carlson
presented a memo to the County Council signed by Commissioners
Steinmark, Carlson and Roe recommending specific salary ranges
for all elected officials. Mr. Roe stated that he felt that all
elected officials' salaries should be those approved by the state
legislature.
In all listings of salaries the Sheriff makes more money than other
elected officials and in Weld County, he is the only elected official
furnished a car. It was suggested that this was because a Sheriff
is on 24-hour call.
The Council was encouraged to have all Councilmembers present
before making a decision about salaries, and to make that decision
as soon as possible. Bob White said that the Council would set
salaries at the February 21, 1978 Council meeting.
Bob White said that he was in favor of establishing a graduated-
pay scale to be implemented within the elected officials' term
but established before the term begins. He noted that a newly-
elected official would not be as valuable to the County during the
first year in office as he would be in succeeding years. Furthermore,
he felt that salaries should not be based on the salaries of County
department heads' salaries as there might be a temptation to raise
department heads ' salaries in hopes of getting one's own salary
raised. He suggested setting a salary lower than those recommended
by the legislature for the first year, but ending the term with a
higher figure to allow for inflation.
John Martin said he believed that the posi
tion tron of County Commissioner
was the most responsible job in the County and that it should be well
compensated so quality persons would run for the office. He stated
that he felt it provided public exposure which may be of benefit to
some persons, but besides that responsible salaries should be offered
to attract responsible persons. He felt it was not realistic to set
pay comparative to private enterprise because in private enterprise
County Council .lutes
February 7, 1978
Page 3
executives are paid in accordance with company profits for which
they are responsible. Mr. Martin felt it was important to find a
way to include the inflation factor in the salaries.
AWARENESS COMMITTEES: Bob Martin made a motion that was seconded by
John Martin to approve the recommendations of the President for
awareness committee assignments. They are:
Health Services Nancy Clark
Finance, Central Purchasing,
Personnel, Treasurer, Auditor Bob Martin
Engineering, Assessor Floyd Oliver
Planning, Sheriff John Martin
Communications, Clerk 8
Recorder, District Attorney,
County Attorney Bob White
MISCELLANEOUS: Bob White announced that the contract to hire Mr.
Jenkins had been signed after several changes by Mr. David and
Mr. Ray. The details of the contract were reiterated for the
press.
Mr. White stated that Mr. Ray would be unable to make his 11:15 A.M.
appointment with the Council at today's meeting to give an opinion
on Judge Behrman's decision regarding the suspension of Mr. Jacobucci.
The Council was questioned by the press regarding that decision. Bob
Martin said he believed that the Council had done the best it could
under the circumstances and that it was important that the County
Charter was upheld. Bob White stated that he believed that the Judge's
decision was a just and wise one and that it would be beneficial to
the Council to provide hearings in the future.
Bob Martin made a motion that the Council retire to Executive Session
to receive testimony from Mr. Jenkins. John Martin seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously. Following Executive Session, as
there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Beverly Thomas APPROVED5≥SL_)C e�
Council Secretary Council President
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