Travis Machalek
Travis Machalek is the Estes Park town administrator. He has held the position since August 2019. Prior to that he was the assistant town administrator for four years. Machalek graduated from the University of Kansas in 2015 with a master's degree in public administration. Credit: Courtesy/Town of Estes Park

Q: One reader asked about why the mayor casts a vote when the town trustees vote on something. “I have noticed on more than one occasion that the mayor has cast a vote. It was always my understanding that the mayor should only cast a vote in the event of a tie. Is it proper that our mayor—past and present—has cast a vote regardless if there is a tie or not?

A: We asked Town Administrator Travis Machalek to clarify this.

“Yes, the mayor does vote along with the rest of the Board. Prior to 2016, the mayor only voted in the event of a tie. That changed on Feb. 23, 2016 with Ordinance 04-16.

You can read the background in the packet materials from 02/23/2016 (look for pages 133 and 134). The minutes also have a bit more detail.

ORDINANCE 04-16Download