“There are seasons in every country when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamors of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism.”  ~Alexander Hamilton

Karen Gerrity, Town of Nederland Administrator. As the quote from Alexander Hamilton illustrates, our country has a long history of political tensions. Being a public servant during turbulent times is challenging, whether at the local, regional, state or national level. While our goal as public servants in Nederland is to be neutral regarding legislative policy making and quasi-judicial matters, it is often a challenge to not allow our emotions or perspectives to get in the way of this goal, especially since most of us live in the Greater Nederland Area. Please understand when asked about our opinion, we can give it to you as an individual, not as a representative of the Town. Sometimes this gets murky and that is problematic. 

Last month a Town of Nederland employee training was conducted and the agenda included HR Policy Updates and Review, Emergency Preparedness and a CIRSA presentation on “Harassment: A Fresh Approach to an Old Problem.” In addition, staff considered and discussed the topic Public Service. 

During the training Public Servants were defined as:

Professionals who want to achieve the public good above all else in their work. 

Committed to treating all members of the public with equality and fairness. 

Committed to exercising courage in the fulfillment of duties.

Marshal Larry Johns was recognized for his over 17 years of dedicated service along with Dawn Baumhover for her 11 years of employment with the Town. Employees who made it to the 5 year mark were also recognized.

Attendees shared their responses to the following questions: What does being a public servant mean to you? When did you need courage as a public servant? What do you enjoy about being a public servant? It was rewarding to hear all the positive comments from Team Ned. Many staff members stated that they enjoyed providing service to the community, and especially like it when projects are completed. Others commented that their favorite part of public service is helping people during difficult times.  Difficult times often mean that the employee needs to exercise courage to meet the problem head-on without letting emotions or preconceived notions get in the way. 

Another topic of conversation was the use of personal/work email and cell phones and CORA requests. Staff was directed to be very mindful when calling out individuals, making judgments about an individual’s behavior, and using sarcasm or joking about serious matters since work-related communications are discoverable. Communicating from a positive place contributes to a kind work culture. Some employees added this disclaimer to their emails in an effort to be transparent: “Under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), all messages sent by or to me on this town-owned e-mail account may be subject to public disclosure.”

Becoming a public servant is not for everyone. It requires a special kind of person who doesn’t take things personally, stays curious, asks good questions, doesn’t make assumptions, isn’t driven by a paycheck, and puts the public’s greater good above all else. It is an honor to be a member of Team Ned and although challenging at times, it has provided an abundance of opportunity for personal and professional growth. 

(Originally published in the November 14, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)