LITTLETON 3.28.13
March 28, 2013
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 124, Issue 10
75 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlittletonnews.com
City manager’s contract draws fire Longevity pay violates spirit of charter, councilor says By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com Michael Penny’s contract, amended for a second time March 19, has been the subject of public scrutiny since he became Littleton’s first city manager to have one.
The first amendment to Penny’s contract added longevity pay, and the most recent one attempts to clarify how that money will be paid to the city manager. The latest amendment passed 4-3, with councilors Bruce Beckman, Peggy Cole Penny and Jerry Valdes against. All three said they had no problem with Penny or his performance, they just weren’t comfortable with the contract as written.
Local activists are arguing the contract violates the charter, and Cole was concerned enough to ask for more discussion before voting March 19. At issue is the negotiated longevity pay that gives Penny one month’s salary for each year worked, up to 11 months, to be paid all at once upon his departure if he leaves in good favor. The city’s charter says nothing about longevity pay for the city manager, but it requires severance pay — the balance of the month plus another month — should he be terminated for any reason. “I believe it violates the spirit of the char-
ter,” said Cole, noting benefits are usually paid over the course of one’s tenure, not at the end. The city charter covers some of the terms of Penny’s employment, but former City Attorney Kirsten Crawford told council when they approved the contract last year that it is more specific and detailed than the charter provisions, and it can be revised. “The city would have the ability (under the contract) to provide little or no severance to the city manager if he is terminated Contract continues on Page 7
Chief search pared to five City manager will have final say in hiring By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com
Corey Smith accepts a goodie bag from Tri-County Health volunteers as a reward for helping out with the emergency drill held at ACC March 22. Photo by Jennifer Smith
Emergency drill ends in chocolate Tri-County Health holds practice run at ACC
By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com Dozens of “anthrax victims” swarmed into Arapahoe Community College March 22, clamoring for a cure. Happily, M&Ms did the trick. The college was the scene of a Tri-County Health Department disaster drill, a test to see how many doses of medicine staff could dispense in an hour. Not enough volunteer “patients” turned out to get a good answer, but there was a steady stream of folks unable to resist free chocolate. In 2009, Tri-County experienced the real deal. During the “swine flu” epidemic that killed thousands of people worldwide, it set up shop at ACC and more than 60 other sites in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties, handing out 64,000 vaccinations POSTAL ADDRESS
in 24 days. “This is what Tri-County Health Department is all about,” said Dr. Richard Vogt, executive director. “Our job is to be on the front lines.” But with no major local disasters since, it never hurts to stay in practice. Tri-County gets federal funds each year for emergency preparedness. “We have a bunch of dedicated individuals figuring out how to respond to the crisis at hand,” explained Dr. Richard Vogt, executive director. Eighty-three of them were on hand for the drill, filling roles such as runners, greeters and line monitors. Intake workers were prepared to handle whatever twists they faced, from what to do if someone was drunk or allergic to the medicine to how to handle a family that only spoke Nepalese. “It went without a hitch,” said Vogt. Nursing student Corey Smith spent the first day of her clinical rotation at Tri-County on the “M&M team.”
“I really want to help others, so it was a good experience for me,” she said. “Totally new.” In addition to candy, everyone got a practical goodie bag with a water bottle, first-aid kit and lots of useful information about what to do in a real emergency and other services Tri-County offers, like immunizations, prenatal care, environmental safety and disease control. Tri-County is the largest local health department in the state, serving more than a million people in the three counties it serves — about half the population of the metro area. With so many to take care of, Vogt encourages everyone to make sure their homes are stocked for an emergency with things like water, blankets, canned food and flashlights. “If everybody were to expect delivery of those things, it would really be impossible,” he said. For more information on Tri-County’s services, visit www.tchd.org.
LITTLETON INDEPENDENT (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 315-780) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display advertising: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal advertising: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classified advertising: Mon. 12 p.m.
Littleton City Manager Michael Penny has narrowed down 45 applications to five finalists he will consider to replace outgoing Police Chief Heather Coogan. The candidates he announced March 22 are Cmdr. Frances L. Gomez of the Aurora Police Department; Cmdr. Rob McGregor of the Aurora Police Department; former Chief Richard W. Myers of the Colorado Springs Police Department; Capt. Douglas Stephens of the Denver Police Department; and Chief Robert L. Ticer of the Avon Police Department. “I am excited about the candidates and look forward to meeting them in person,” said Penny. “I am looking for a chief who will take what is working well and build on that — someone who will critically evaluate where we have opportunities for improvement.” Coogan announced her retirement Jan. 18, just months after a survey of city employees showed the police department was less satisfied with its direct supervision and senior leadership than other departments. At the time, Penny said the results revealed opportunities to work toward positive change. Coogan’s last day is officially April 1, and division chiefs Bob Brandt and Bill Christensen are exiting with her. They’re taking advantage of a new incentive offered to all Littleton sworn officers age 57 and older. In exchange for retiring now, their health insurance will be paid until they’re 65. Cmdr. Gene Enley will serve as acting chief, and Cmdrs. Kim Ferber and Paul Creadon will be acting division chiefs. Penny said he’ll leave the decision about permanently replacing Brandt and Christensen up to the new chief, whom he hopes to have in place by May. Starting in mid-April, Penny will get input from interview panels, including citizens, chiefs in other jurisdictions, Littleton police and other department heads. More than 40 people will be involved in the interviews, but the ultimate decision will be his.
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