The Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) met on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 7 p.m., holding a public hearing regarding the approval of the 2023 Supplemental Budget, which deals with the $209,487.14 variance between the current salaries for Nederland municipal employees and the minimum standard according to the Colorado average.

The BOT approved appointing KC Cunilio, an alternate member of the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB), to the regular board. This fills the vacant position left by Jason Swann, who resigned on July 6. Applications to fill the now-vacant alternate position will open on August 2, with a closing date of August 23.

Trustees also approved three resolutions needed to authorize funding for two Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) projects and for wages for NDDA administration.

The NDDA had approved using $30,000 from their budget for the River Walk project for funding preliminary design plans for a Pump Track from American Ramp Company. This money would also be used to cover administrative costs.

Resolution 2023-35 authorizes $15,000 in funding for the River Walk project; Resolution 2023-36 authorizes $10,000 of that to be used for the Pump Track project; and Resolution 2023-37 authorizes $5,000 for NDDA administration.

The Town of Nederland has received $7,000 from the Boulder County Economic Vitality grant, funds aimed to revitalize businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The BOT and NDDA are providing these funds to local businesses who apply beginning September 5, with the application due by October 3.

The funds will be distributed by November 14, and can be used to cover operating expenses, pay for employee bonuses, or purchase PPE.

Town Administrator Dr. Miranda Fisher presented the only action item on the Board’s agenda, concerning final approval on the 2023 Supplemental Budget, which had been prepared by Town Treasurer Rita Six.

The supplemental budget, based on the results of a Compensation Study conducted by Employers Council, includes immediate increases for employees who require $10,000 or less to get to the recommended minimum salary, as well as an immediate 50% increase for those who need more than $10,000 to reach minimum, with the remaining 50% to be budgeted in 2024.

The immediate financial impact to the 2024 budget would be $128,808.13, with the General Fund balance to show a total decrease of $83,830 from law enforcement and grants revenue, and increases in expenditures for Administration and Finance, the Clerk’s Office, Planning and Zoning, Public Works, and the Parks Department. Other fund balances remained unaffected, except for a $16,643 decrease in the Community Center Fund, the result of an increase in personnel expenditures.

The 2023 Supplemental Budget also accounts for a $70,928 decrease in law enforcement revenue and a $46,060 decrease in expenditure, indicating that coverage from Boulder County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) has increased, accounting for money already spent on the existing contract for overnight coverage and for extra duty shifts this year.

With the Town still relying on extra duty shifts and overnight coverage, the cost of the contract with BCSO for full-time police coverage has been adjusted to $908,548.

The supplemental budget also accounts for a $511,000 increase in revenue for Public Works for a five-year loan agreement with Clayton Holdings LLC to purchase a $84,500 water truck, a $338,000 2023 Caterpillar grader, and a 2023 Dodge Ram for $83,395.

Additionally, the supplemental budget accounts for the $70,000 to $75,000 salary needed for a full-time appointment for Leah Haney, Nederland’s Sustainability Coordinator. The Boulder County Sustainability grant has partially funded this contracted position for over three years, with the Town matching a $15,000 grant from its Zero Waste budget.

Fisher recommends that the Town’s departments operate on a minimal budget in 2024, meaning that no new capital improvement projects would begin in 2024 to allow for current projects in development to be completed. This would also enable the Town to “work on evaluating how to increase revenue.”

The motion to approve Resolution 2023-40, amending the 2023 budget and approving supplemental appropriations for the General Fund and Community Center Fund, was passed unanimously.

Fisher noted under “other business” that she will be serving as Chair of the Peak to Peak Housing and Human Services Alliance and hopes to use her experience in health and human services to help identify ways for the alliance to organize and collaborate with other agencies.

Trustee Jesse Seavers prompted a discussion about potentially building bicycle trails in Nederland, which led into the BOT specifying how such trail development should be included in the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, Trails Plan being developed by PROSAB.

The Nederland Board of Trustees meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Their next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 7 p.m. and can be attended either online or in person at the Nederland Community Center. For more information: https:// townofnederland. colorado.gov/ board-of-trustees