CENTRAL CITY — Gilpin County commissioners held a work session on January 20, 2026, to discuss policy and administrative matters.

Short-Term Rental – addressing fires

The board discussed the policy surrounding fires at short-term rentals, a complex topic given the tiered licensing system in place. “There are three tiers of licenses: Tier 1, owner-occupied; Tier 2, non-owner-occupied and county resident; Tier 3, non-county resident” (https://gilpincounty.colorado.gov/departments-offices/community-development/short-term-rentals).

Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth noted that homeowners who reside on the property should not be prohibited from having fires altogether.

Different incentives were discussed to encourage STR hosts to obtain a wildfire preparedness certificate. The board also asked about prohibiting wood-burning fire pits.

“There might be a subset of people who don’t like this, but it’s all about public safety,” Hollingsworth said.

Commissioners ultimately decided to prohibit open fires using wood or charcoal, allowing only appliances that use propane or natural gas.

Community Development Director Jaime Boyle listened to and recorded the board's wishes, including requirements that there be a three-foot clearance from all combustible materials and that the appliance have a shutoff switch. A Class ABC fire extinguisher and a shovel must be accessible within ten feet of the appliance. The fire must be attended by an adult until it is turned off.

Infant at Work Policy Discussion 

County Manager Ray Rears spoke about the difficulty young parents face when choosing between a career and staying home to parent. Human Resources Director Chanda Johnson said the policy in place helps with retention and morale and reduces turnover.

“I think it’s a beneficial program,” Johnson said.

“It’s not suitable for all positions,” Rears noted, referring to bringing an infant to work. Mobility of the child was a point of concern, and the current policy specifies an age range of 6 to 10 months. Hollingsworth suggested the policy remain flexible and extend to 12 months in cases where a child is disabled and never reaches mobility.

If a child becomes sick or disruptive, the employee would be required to leave or appoint one of their two designated representatives to assist with the child. Time spent caring for the child would not be considered work time.

Commissioner Susan Berumen suggested offering a soundproof or private space to bring a fussy baby. The board then discussed the “sitting space” referenced in the current policy, as well as the possibility of using an employee’s office. Rears said he had engineered the previous policy to remove a disruptive baby from County property altogether.

Commissioner Jeff Aiken suggested a pilot program to determine what works and what does not. Hollingsworth said that, by nature, policies can be rewritten and adjusted, and she did not see a need for a pilot program.

Rears summarized the discussion, saying Johnson would revise the policy to incorporate the ideas raised and present the updated policy to the board at the regular meeting on February 10.

Deputy Human Services Director and Program Manager position 

Johnson remained for the discussion with Human Services Director Janey Barker, who presented the board with the need for a Deputy Human Services Director. Johnson outlined the need for an employee who could attend meetings on shared services and who has a background in case management.

Rears said the need has already been identified and that the position is factored into the budget. He said 80% of the cost would be covered by the state, with the remainder covered by the County.

Barker emphasized that this is not a new position, but rather a reworking of the Community Benefits Program Manager position to include the expanded scope of a deputy director.

Johnson said the job description would be brought before the board at a formal meeting for approval.

Food Pantry – Nonprofit alternative

Won Cho spoke about the informal advisory committee formed to handle the day-to-day activities of the Food Pantry. The purpose of the Tuesday meeting was to inform the board of the committee’s intent to become a nonprofit organization and to confirm their support. A key factor, Cho said, is that a nonprofit can apply for grants that the County cannot.

“Our intention is to be a TFAP food pantry,” Cho said. (TFAP: The Emergency Food Assistance Program)

He noted that the organization should not be exclusively volunteer-run and should include paid employees, citing Nederland's food pantry, which employs four staff members.

Berumen said the stated need for employees focused on payroll and IT (Information Technology) may not be necessary, given the small size of the operation. She emphasized the importance of hiring an executive director, particularly for grant-writing responsibilities.

Hollingsworth praised the character and commitment of those involved, including Harv Mastalir, Won Cho, and Roxy Goss.

Cho said progress toward nonprofit status includes selecting a name and forming articles of incorporation. Hollingsworth asked about the name, and Cho confirmed it would be “Gilpin Food Pantry.”

The group is currently drafting bylaws and finishing its application, a process Cho said could take several months to complete.

He added that there has been some confusion surrounding donations and that the new designation would help clarify that.

The group also discussed the possibility of using a badge system to distinguish the Food Pantry's use of the annex building from County offices.

The board encouraged the group to move forward with applying for nonprofit status, hiring an executive director, and developing a budget.

The work session concluded around 12:15 p.m.

The next regular meeting of the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for January 27, 2026, and will be held in the Old Courthouse, located at 203 Eureka Street, Central City.