Westsider WESTSIDER 1.24.13
North Jeffco
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 3
January 25, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Election process in play Potential change to eliminate runoff draws comments By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
Evelyn Cadman uses a drill to take apart pieces of a bridge to be resurfaced during a volunteer project in the Big Dry Creek area Saturday in Westminster. Photos by Andy Carpenean
Volunteers help to maintain city By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com Westminster volunteer coordinator Pattie Wright can’t say enough about a particular group of local residents. A group that has put in hours of hard work and dedication to make Westminster the best it can be. “I have a very established group of volunteers who have been volunteering for years. Some even for 10 to 15 years,” she said. “They are just amazing. They are like professional volunteers.” On Saturday, Jan. 19, the city kicked off the year with its first volunteer project. Wright and a group of about 20 volunteers worked together to repair a pedestrian bridge on the Big Dry Creek Trail behind Front Range Community College and distribute mulch in the open space area. Wright said she coordinates 1820 projects a year to help maintain almost 3,000 acres of open space of Westminster and miles of trails. “The city depends on the volunteers’ helping hands to enhance and maintain the open space and trails in Westminster,” she said. “It doesn’t
Jim McGinnis, left, pushes mulch into a wheelbarrow for Lisa Engelking during a volunteer project along Big Dry Creek Trail Saturday in Westminster. take care of itself, even though it looks like it does.” Volunteer Albert Sinclair has been donating his time since 2010 when he moved to Westminster from California. He said after visiting Colorado he fell in love with the state, and had to move from the West Coast. Ever since then, he’s put in many hours to service to keep Westminster a beautiful city. “I started volunteering because I really didn’t know many people out here, and I wanted to feel like part of the community,” he said. “I love doing this and it makes me feel like I have a sense of purpose.” Wright said she’s always impressed with the work of the volunteers who know how to get busy and get their
Albert Sinclair uses a prybar to remove old parts of a bridge to be resurfaced during a volunteer project along Big Dry Creek Trail Saturday in Westminster.
‘It doesn’t take care of itself, even though it looks like it does.’ Westminster volunteer coordinator Pattie Wright hands dirty. With cooperation and positive energy, Wright said the volunteers can accomplish so much in just a few hours, compared to one person in 60 hours. “I have the best job in the whole city. I get to see the best side of people,” she said. “During every project people are smiling, laughing and working together. It’s amazing.” For more information on upcoming volunteer projects in Westminster, contact Wright at 303-658-2201 or pwright@cityofwestminster.us.
The process in which the next Westminster mayor is elected could change, with or without the support of the residents. By a 4-3 vote, City Council approved on Jan. 14 the first reading of an ordinance that removes the requirement that a candidate must secure an excess of 40 percent of the voter margin to be elected to the office of mayor. Councilors Herb Atchison, Bob Briggs, Mark Kaiser and Mary Lindsey voted in favor of the ordinance, while mayor Nancy McNally, mayor pro tem Faith Winter and councilor Scott Major voted against the ordinance. The second and final reading of the ordinance will be voted on during council’s Jan. 28 meeting. Since 1993, all mayoral elections require a candidate to receive at least 40 percent of the votes. If the top candidate does not receive 40 percent, the top two candidates face off against each other during a run-off election. This process requires a second election, costing about $100,000, which is not a line item in the city budget but is something highlighted in the budget process as a potential eventuality. By removing the 40 percent requirement, the candidate who receives the most votes will be elected in one election, without the need of a run-off election. During the meeting, more than 10 Westminster residents voiced their opposition to the ordinance during public comment. Resident Tim Kauffman told council the run-off election is important because the mayor position needs widespread community support. “Moving to the run-off election focuses on the two highest folks and then the community can decide between those two candidates,” he said. “I ask you to keep the provision for a mayor run-off election.” McNally, Winter and Major spoke in the same tone as many of the community members, each voicing their opposition to the ordinance. Winter attempted to table the ordinance and take the issue to the public for a public vote, but the motion failed. She said she adamantly opposes the ordinance and believes it is wrong for the city of West-
minster. McNally said the ordinance is morally and ethically wrong and will not support it. She said this kind of decision is not meant to be made by council, but the residents of Westminster. “Normally after a vote we sing “Kumbaya” and go forward. I cannot do that tonight or after the next vote, because this is wrong,” she said. “It is not for me to sit here and decide. I’m sorry this did not get put to a public vote. Without that public vote, it’s not for me tell you after 18 years, for no good reason, that we are going to change the way this is voted. I will publicly speak out against it.” Major said he believes the mayor needs wide support of the citizens within the city and also adamantly opposes the ordinance. He has officially filed his candidate affidavit to run in this year’s mayor election. He said he does not believe in changing the election process during an election year. “I do not think it is right for a mayor to be elected by a very small percentage of the citizens,” he said. ”This is wrong for the city and wrong for the citizens.” Out of the four council members who voted in favor of the ordinance two of them have officially filed their candidate affidavits to run in this year’s mayor election, Briggs and Atchison, but neither provided any comments on their vote during the meeting. Lindsey was the only person who gave any reasoning for her decision to approve the change. She said she’d previously received e-mails from people in the community who believed a second run-off election was not needed. “You the voters will choose the mayor, and I hope it’s done in one election,” she said. “I trust the voters will pick the best candidate and I think we will have a sizable margin.” Council will vote on the second reading of the ordinance during the Jan. 28 meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 4800 W. 92nd Ave. Residents can voice their opinions during that meeting, or personally contact any of the council members before that date. All council member contact information can be found on the city’s website, www.ci.westminster.co.us, under the city government tab.
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