Town of Estes Park Trustees discussed term limits after hearing about appointment procedures to the Estes Park Housing Authority’s board from its executive director, Scott Moulton.
The conversation was held at the March 25 study session. Study sessions are informational meetings held for trustees to learn more about specific projects and organizations in town, but no decisions are made during these meetings.
The EPHA board has five-year terms with no term limits, explained Moulton. The Town Board makes appointments of its commissioners in its regular meetings after each open position is posted, applications are received, and interviews are held.
For the most recent appointment, which was made by the Town Board later that evening, Trustees Frank Lancaster and Bill Brown served as the interview committee, and Moulton was present “to answer questions,” he said.
“I think there should be term limits for every board,” said Mayor Pro Tem Marie Cenac during the session. She said that when people are on a board for a long time, they tend to control the board, and it doesn’t allow for fresh ideas.
Eric Blackhurst has served on the EPHA board since its inception in 2000 and has been chair for more than 10 years, Blackhurst said in a phone interview with the Estes Valley Voice on Thursday.
The chair is elected on a yearly basis by the commissioners who sit on the organization’s board. Blackhurst said that having no term limits allows for a “continuity of philosophy” on the board, but he acknowledged in the most recent EPHA meeting that the upcoming term will be his last.
Brown wondered if Blackhurst’s appointment couldn’t just be approved without having to go through interview procedures, especially since it’s his last term, but that got some pushback from other members of the Town Board.
“I agree with the way it’s being run now,” said Trustee Mark Igel, “I feel there should be accountability for any board that gets money from anywhere for anything.”
Igel went on to say that even though Blackhurst is doing a good job and brings a lot of experience to EPHA, the organization should not forgo the regular appointment procedures.
“He may be the best but don’t take that decision away from us,” Igel said. “Because it’s not just my decision. It’s who I’m representing.”
Lancaster pointed out that the Estes Valley Library District’s appointments seem to be “rubber-stamped” by the Town Board. “Are we shirking our responsibility?” he asked. “It’s one of those strange boards where they get tax money, but there are no elections for their board members.”
Town Administrator Travis Machalek explained that Larimer County and the Town need to agree on each appointment to the library board. The Town Board approves Library Board members after receiving a letter of recommendation from the Library. No elections or interviews are considered in this process.
Overnight and street parking discussion
Dana Klein, the Town’s parking and transportation manager, presented proposed changes to the ordinances prohibiting overnight and street parking for discussion.
Currently, parking on any street overnight is prohibited, but enforcement of this ordinance is inconsistent and reactive when someone makes a complaint, Klein said.
He proposed a change to several ordinances that would “decriminalize” current parking along Graves and Third Streets, for example. However, parking overnight downtown or camping in your car would remain prohibited.
Several Trustees wondered why overnight parking downtown would not be legal, given that the concentration of bars and restaurants in that area might mean someone would need to leave their car and get a ride home.
However, the board did not believe overnight parking in parking lots downtown should be allowed.
Klein also proposed a new commercial loading permit where commercial vehicles may park at the Estes Park Events Complex from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. the next morning to alleviate having work vehicles and personal vehicles parked in a concentrated area, especially downtown.
Spending authority for 6E funds
Carlie Bangs, the Town’s housing and childcare manager, presented a framework for how 6E funds will be distributed for childcare through grant awards. She also discussed a proposed increase in the spending authority that the Town staff has for 6E funds.
Currently, any award over $10,000 that is distributed has to be brought to the Town Board for approval. However, the town administrator can authorize up to $100,000 for these types of expenditures.
It was noted that the $10,000 limit was set because it was a new department of the Town and that changes to the spending authority can be reviewed at a future board meeting.