Paonia seats new trustees
Three absent trustees — Brian Ayers, Sid Lewis and David Weber — on the current Paonia Town Council caused Mayor Neal Schwieterman to consult with town attorney Jim Briscoe about how to proceed. Briscoe said the mayor could have the current trustees deliver their reports but no action could be taken on issues involving a vote until the new trustees had taken their oath of office.
Outgoing trustees Blake Kinser and Lucien Pevec gave their reports. Kinser stated he recommended a contract between Susan Leon and the town be adopted by the new council which would pay her $650 a month for cleaning services. The proposed contract was based upon the parks contract.
Pevec submitted a comment proposing a change to Section 2 of the draft water ordinance. "It clarifies the spirit of the changes we made in the last discussion," Pevec said.
The draft water ordinance was tabled to give the new trustees time to review it.
In his Mayor's Report, Schwieterman noted that Double J is considering a recycling pilot program in which they would offer curbside recycling to their customers. If that comes to pass, the Town of Paonia may contract for trash pick up services rather than have public works handle the job. The mayor who has long worked on recycling said the proposal was "great news."
The mayor said the staff for Sen. Mark Udall and Sen. Michael Bennet came to the North Fork Valley and that they are both paying attention to the process and comments about the proposed BLM oil and gas lease sales.
At each election, the town has an election at one of the schools. This program is to get students interested in elections and voting. This year the election was at Paonia High School.
The Town of Paonia offered Josie West $18,000 for property behind town hall and the West Home Center. It would have expanded the town's parking lot. However, West wanted $30,000 for the two lots, so there will be no deal.
Town staff and trustees have used personal e-mail accounts in the past. If there is an investigation, personal computers could be subpoenaed. To avoid that, the mayor suggested the Town of Paonia have a web-based e-mail system similar to what the Town of Hotchkiss has.
The Town of Paonia has employed Chad Gartman as their building inspector. They are looking at a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Hotchkiss to share his services. Gartman would be employed by Paonia with Hotchkiss reimbursing Paonia for his time and vehicle costs. Paonia pays the federal mileage rate. Hotchkiss wants to have 48 hours to arrange an out of sequence inspection.
The council approved a special events liquor license for the American Legion at town park during the BMW Motorcycle Rally July 12-15.
The liquor license renewal for the Paradise Theatre was tabled until the next council meeting. The council had questions about if alcohol is served during movies for kids and whether there will be a lease extension.
The council approved proclamations establishing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 19 as Paonia Eagle Wrestling Appreciation Day and April 20 as Arbor Day.
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