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With new faces around the council table, the Cedaredge Town Council conducted an orientation for its trustees on Thursday, April 12. Those elected earlier this month to the council are Nancy Sturgill, Ray Hanson, Ken Simpson and Dayton Myers, Jr. and mayor Pat Means.

The orientation was presented by Elyse Ackerman-Casselberry from the Department of Local Affairs. Trustees Gene Welch, Nelson Cederberg and Dr. Laurence Smith were also present for the presentation.

Casselberry's presentation touched on the roles and responsibilities of elected officials and their relationship with the town's various advisory boards (committees), staff, department heads, etc; and the types of meetings (work sessions, regular meetings, special meetings, executive sessions, public hearings, etc.) that they, as elected officials, are expected to attend.

Casselberry's presentation offered the trustees some advice on how to prepare for each of those meetings, along with recommendations on how to make unbiased and informed decisions based on fact and not hearsay. She also offered some  recommendations for working together as a team including protocol, proper decorum, respect for staff and other elected officials and discretion regarding privileged information.

Casselberry briefly touched on potential liability issues that the trustees might have to face, and limited immunity as defined by the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. Casselberry told the trustees that they will need to familiarize themselves with both the open meetings law as defined by the Colorado Sunshine Law, and the Tax Payers Bill of Rights (TABOR), approved by the voters in 1992.

The trustees were also introduced to the administrative staff and various department heads — Adam Conway, golf course superintendent and director of park maintenance; Tammy Francis, financial director;  Larry Murphy, golf pro; Darlyn Novakovich, town clerk; Kathleen Sickles, town administrator; David Smith, public works; and Police Chief Robert Yant. They also received a copy of  the town's Home Rule Charter and the Employee's Handbook.

Each department head gave a brief overview of their department's mission along with their own personal qualifications for heading up their particular departments.

With the orientation completed the trustees turned their attention to the draft agenda in preparation for their first meeting as elected town council members on April 19.

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