Paonia Sewer Plant Property River Channel Damage Fixed – Police Department in Transition

Paonia Trustee Dave Bradford goes high tech in presenting a computer slide show of ongoing projects and problems around the town.  Herald photo by Tom Wills

Paonia Sewer Plant Property River Channel Damage Fixed – Police Department in Transition

By Thomas Wills

Paonia Town Council

April 28, 2015

Present:  Mayor Neal Schwieterman, Mayor pro-tem – Charles Stewart, David Bradford, Ross King, Eric Goold, Amber Kleinman, and Suzanne Watson.  Also present: Town Manager Jane Berry, Deputy Town Clerk – Corinne Ferguson, Finance Officer – Cindy Jones and Police Chief – Scott Leon.

             Paonia Town Manager/Administrator, Jane Berry, is also now the official Town Clerk. The Paonia Town Council approved the appointment, through April 2016, unanimously at the April 28 regular meeting.  The move was necessary since State statute requires statutory towns to have a Town Clerk. The position has been vacant since either December 24, 2014, former Clerk Peterson’s final day on the job, or as of March 10 when the Council removed her by majority vote from the official position. The appointment was made on the condition that the additional title will not increase Berry’s compensation and that she will waive any administrative hearing if the Council chooses to remove her from the position in the future. In other words the appointment is intended to simply meet the requirements of State law and will result in no change to Town administration.

In the meantime, it will be requested of DOLA that grant monies up to $2,000 be used to allow for additional Town Clerk training for Deputy Clerk Corinne Ferguson with an eye towards getting her qualified for the main Clerk position. It was reported that DOLA, who is funding a portion of Berry’s current salary, had no problem with her carrying both titles, even though that very point was said not to be an option during the initial grant application process.

On the good news front Berry reported that there were two possible senior housing projects in the works; one assisted living facility being planned for an area close to the Creek Vista apartments and a co-habitation building for seniors being talked about.

Sanchez Leaves Police Force

            Manager Berry announced that 14 year Paonia Police Department veteran Sgt. Shawn Sanchez was leaving the department as of May 3 to join the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Department. Former Paonia officer Patrick Hinyard has been rehired to fill the vacancy. The Town continues to operate with Chief Scott Leon and a two officer staff, down from a previous high of five officers. (Update: on May 1 there was an unconfirmed report that Leon himself had allegedly submitted his resignation. There was also an item in the Delta County Sheriff’s report that the Town had asked the Department to look into allegations at a Town employee had misused a Town debit card.)

Public Safety Committee chair, Eric Goold, asked for a work session to begin to discuss which direction the Town wishes to go regarding the future of the police department. A work session was scheduled for May 12 at 6 p.m. The PSC would like to send out a public survey to residents to determine the public’s wishes as far and PD staffing options and service levels.

Damage to River Channel/Town Sewer Property Fixed

Manager Berry reported that the illegal work done on Town owned river frontage by a local contractor, C.M. “Chuck” Chesnik, hired by a neighbor of the Town property, Mike Smith, had been reversed with the Army Corp of Engineers being appraised of the progress. Trustee Dave Bradford showed projected photos of the before and after work.

The contractor had trespassed onto Town property, presumably at the direction of Smith, and performed  work, unauthorized by either the Town or Army Corp of Engineers, on deepening and straightening the river channel and constructing a lengthy dike several feet high. With the contractor and Town crews working together the dike was removed and area flattened to an approximation of its former elevation. There was no public discussion of possible criminal or civil charges being filed against the contractor and/or neighbor.

Water Projects Line of Credit Sought

The Trustees approved the seeking of a $1 million line of credit from local banks to backfill financing needs on the ongoing water system projects where about $4 million in costs remain. The line of credit would be used to pay contractors in a timely manner while awaiting reimbursement from the grant/loan agencies. Such temporary financing measures are standard procedure with such large project costs in small towns.

Projects include a new upper system water treatment plant, renovation and reroofing of the 1 million gallon tank and other system improvements. The 1 million gallon tank project should be completed in early May.

Bradford Shows Pictures of Problems

Trustee Dave Bradford of the Parks/Recreation and Public Works committees presented a two part computer slide show featuring various problem issues around town including: bare spots, unfinished projects and maintenance problems at the parks, graffiti on trees and under the Grand Avenue Bridge (which belongs to the County), and inadequate signage on Town-owned vehicles.

Other action and discussion:

There was a long discussion about “top dressing” the football field at Town Park.  The cost will be $11,000 with half coming from Delta County and “the cost of running the machines” from the School District leaving several thousand dollars to be borne by the Town. The School District currently pays the Town $1,800 per year for use of the field. Trustee Eric Goold questioned the need to spend the money citing current plans to build a new football field at the high school.

Liquor licenses were renewed for the Living Farm Café, Paonia Liquors and Hwy 133 Liquors.