The Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) met on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at 7 p.m. to hear an update on the Town’s search for a new Marshal and Sergeant for the Nederland Police Department (NPD). The BOT also discussed the cost and timeline of choosing to contract law enforcement full-time from Boulder County Sheriff’s Department (BCSO).

The BOT began their meeting by approving the Consent Agenda, which included a draft Revocable Encroachment Agreement. The agreement allows the continued use of a private driveway that encroaches on Town property at 72 Barker Road.

Trustee Karen Blakemore wished to send the matter of the Revocable Encroachment Agreement to the Planning Commission to review during their October meeting and return to the BOT with feedback and guidance. This required a motion to make the matter an Action Item, which was made and passed.

As an Action Item a motion was made to refer the Revocable Encroachment Agreement concerning 72 Barker Road to the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded and approved.

Within the Consent Agenda the BOT also approved an amended Intergovernmental Agreement with BCSO for continued law enforcement dispatch services to Nederland.

The BOT was also tasked, within their Consent Agenda, to change the official signers on the Town of Nederland’s bank account. Town Staff recommended that Mayor Billy Giblin, Mayor Pro-Tem Tom Mahowald, and Trustee Eric Coombs-Esmail be considered as the new official signers, which the BOT approved.

The BOT also approved a purchase order to Lakeside Equipment Corporation for a $12,800 replacement basket needed for headworks repairs to the town’s wastewater treatment facility.

Town Administrator Miranda Fisher presented to the BOT an update on recruitment efforts for the NPD. Fisher, along with Town Attorney Jennifer Madsen, also delivered information regarding the pricing and budget, as well as timeline of implementation, if the town were to contract law enforcement through BCSO.

The pricing and budget of the contract would be based on the level of law enforcement staffing that Nederland would require, decided by the BOT. BCSO recommended four Deputies and one Sergeant at a cost of approximately $728,000, which would cover overhead costs such as fuel, phones, office supplies, and uniform supplies.

The proposed new contract with BCSO would include overnight coverage, enveloping the current overnight contract Nederland has with BCSO. Co-responders, victim advocates, and code compliance officers are not covered by BCSO under this contract. Dispatch is provided by BCSO but at a separate cost, which Nederland already currently pays.

If the BOT chooses to contract with BCSO it would be required that Nederland provides them with a substation. The town would also provide a hired co-responder or mental health worker to assist BCSO. Negotiating, finalizing, and approving the contract would take up to one month.

It would take nine months to a year for BCSO to fully staff Nederland, though an officer would be stationed in town while BCSO attempts to recruit for the open positions. Nederland would be charged accordingly based on the staffing level and BCSO would not be invoiced the full contract price until the four Deputies and one Sergeant are placed.

Nederland will still have to continue posting for extra duty shifts for coverage from BCSO until a decision is made regarding whether the town will contract with BCSO or will hire to rebuild the NPD.

In regards to the NPD, the town has received 37 applications for staffing, including for Police Officer, Sergeant, and Marshal. Town staff have met with five potential candidates for Marshal or Sergeant and are awaiting the candidates to complete their mandatory background checks, evaluations and assessments, which can take six to eight weeks. Town staff expect that they may be able to onboard a Marshal and Sergeant to the NPD by the end of October.

Additionally the town of Nederland has been invited to meet with 12 unsponsored cadets set to graduate from Aims Police Academy.

Chief of Louisville Police and President of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Dave Hayes was present at the September 20, 2022 meeting to detail how the CACP can support Nederland if the BOT were to decide to rebuild the NPD.

Chief Hayes has already been assisting Town Staff in the recruitment and interviewing process. The CACP would be able to assist in the rebuilding of the NPD by providing training and mentorships for new officers, and would also assist Town Staff and the BOT in hiring a new Marshal.

Trustees weighed their discussion based on the cost of contracting with BCSO against the cost of rebuilding the NPD, which is partly contingent on whether tax initiatives on the November 8, 2022 ballot pass. Time was also a factor, as Trustees wished to make the most effective decision concerning the priority of public safety.

BCSO provided a nine-to-twelve- month timeline while the timeline of recruitment to the NPD depends on six to eight weeks for background checks, an interview process with the Town, and whether the BOT approves rebuilding the department by raising their 2023 budget, with or without the aid of tax revenue.

Trustee Coombs-Esmail gave his nod towards directing Town Staff to cease negotiations with BCSO on a full-time contract and to continue with recruitment efforts to the NPD. Mayor Giblin and Trustee Blakemore also gave their nods. Trustee Jesse Seavers, though seemingly giving the fourth required nod, did not desire to cease negotiations with BCSO.

Trustee Blakemore expressed that the community desired for the BOT to make a decision on the future of the NPD and made a motion to move the question to an Action Item, requiring a vote and a final decision. The motion was rejected and a nod of four to direct Town Staff to continue recruitment efforts was accepted. A nod is a decision on a non-contentious question, or a question whose points of contention will be addressed at another time.

The BOT was tasked with whether or not to give approval on the final draft of the 2022 supplemental budget which aims to fund budget and salary increases for the NPD, Town Administration, and Town Works, which includes Nederland’s Parks, Streets, and Utilities departments.

The proposed supplemental budget would provide affected Town departments a total of $41,918 for salary increases and $43,199 for bonuses. The cost of several capital improvement projects would also be covered by the supplemental budget, including installation of a new hot water heater and new grease trap at the Nederland Community Center, and sidewalk repair in the Central Business District.

The matter of dust mitigation for two miles of road in the Big Springs neighborhood, which requires spraying of dust suppressant that costs $7,000 per mile, was returned as a capital project to be covered by the proposed 2022 supplemental budget after being removed from previous drafts. Dust mitigation is required by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment for roads that have more than 200 vehicles traveling on it daily.

Trustee Coombs-Esmail made a motion to amend the approval of the supplemental budget by removal of the opening of the Administrative Assistant position for the town of Nederland. The position is currently held by Peter Cacek. Cacek is recommended by Town Administrator Fisher to step beyond his current duties as Administrative Assistant and utilize his skills towards community outreach efforts.

The motion to remove the opening of the job position from the supplemental budget was rejected due toa3-3vote.Amotiontoapprove the unamended 2022 supplemental budget was approved by the BOT.

The BOT was tasked with voting on the approval or rejection of Ordinance Number 828, which extends Town Administrator Miranda Fisher’s and Town Clerk Macy Caligaris’ authority over approving temporary use permits, temporary use of right- of-way, temporary modifications to liquor licensed businesses, and declaring an emergency.

With Ordinance Number 828 being considered an emergency ordinance it requires a vote of approval from five of the six Trustees on the Board. The BOT voted unanimously to approve the ordinance.

The Sustainability Advisory Board has asked the BOT to officially recognize the first Wednesday of October as Energy Efficiency Day. In doing so Nederland would be joining Colorado Springs, Boston, Massachusetts, Columbus, Ohio, Santa Monica, California, and Dallas, Texas and many other cities in raising awareness about local tangible energy reduction efforts throughout October.

The BOT approved and officially declared Wednesday, October 5, 2022 as Energy Efficiency Day. Nederland residents and business owners can participate in such programs as Energy Smart and Partners for a Clean Environment to increase their energy efficiency.

The Nederland Board of Trustees meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Their next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at 7 p.m. and can now be attended online or in person at the Nederland Community Center. For more information go to: https:// townofnederland. colorado. gov/ board-of-trustees