The Westcliffe Board of Trustees (BOT) held a regular meeting on February 18. On the agenda under Old Business was the consideration and approval of Ordinance No. 2-2025, adding Chapter 9, Firearms in Public Buildings, to Title 5 of the Westcliffe Municipal Code. Under New Business was consideration and approval of the appointment of Christy Patterson to the BOT; Town Attorney Clay Buchnerâs employment contract; a request to reactivate the Westcliffe Parks Advisory Committee; and adding Town Clerk Erin Christie as a signatory on the town credit card.
Buchner gave a prĂ©cis of Ordinance 2-2025, establishing the Townâs policy, discussed last month, of opting out of the most restrictive of the stateâs policies regarding the carrying of firearms in public buildings, recently enacted in Senate Bill 24-131. In their January meeting, the BOT discussed banning open carry in town-owned public buildings and allowing concealed carry for permit holders into the town hall, except when the municipal court was in session.
Buchner then presented the Ordinance as drafted. After discussion, Mayor Paul Wenke recommended tabling the Ordinance vote until the Sheriff was able to review the language to make sure it was enforceable.
Wenke then introduced Patterson, who most recently served as the Chair of the Westcliffe Planning Committee, as the only candidate who submitted a Letter of Interest in the Trustee position vacated by George Moweryâs resignation. After taking the Oath of Office, Patterson joined the BOT for the rest of the meeting.
Buchner then asked the BOT to consider hiring him as a Town employee, saying that he had been appointed as a Deputy District Attorney: âI canât practice private law, but I can work for governments, but not as a contractor, as an employee. I am asking all municipalities I currently work for to hire me as a part-time employee with no benefits.â Buchner and the BOT discussed terms of employment but put off approval of a contract until next monthâs meeting.
Parks Committee member John Van Doren was in attendance for a discussion of reviving the Parks Committee. After a discussion that included plans for moving the Farmerâs Market back to Jess Price Park, along with planting and other projects, the BOT voted to reactivate the Parks Committee and appoint Neil Mars as a citizen member.
During staff and committee reports, Patterson mentioned that she and Trustee Bob Fulton had taken part in the âvirtual kick-offâ on February 14 for the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) that the Town had commissioned. Patterson also announced that she would be leaving the Planning Commission after being appointed a Trustee. Wenke and Fulton talked about their upcoming pitch to DOLA on March 4 for an infrastructure grant. Public works staff are going to be paving Adams, 2nd Street, and 10th Street by the school this summer.
â Elliot Jackson