Ordinance to Revise Pay for Las Animas Mayor & Council is Thrown Out

~Anne Boswell

When Las Animas City Council and Mayor Charles Shupe met on Wednesday night the assumption was there would be discussion on an ordinance to revise the Mayor's pay and revise pay for council to serve on boards. That didn't happen.

When public comment was called for, City Attorney Brandon Dittman, appearing virtually for the meeting, stated that no comment could be allowed because it was a first reading. Dittman pointed to the fact that there was a posting of the meeting on the city's website that stated this would be a first reading.

Council member Rick Stwally and others spoke up that it was discussed two weeks earlier that this would be a second reading of the ordinance, which would allow for public comment.

Several community members were in attendance at the meeting, to listen and to speak.

In Colorado, ordinances have a required “reading” and adoption process (typically two readings for municipalities under Title 31 of the Colorado Revised Statutes).

• At the first reading, the ordinance is introduced, and often the council sets the time and date for a public hearing (usually held at the second reading).

• The public hearing (often tied to the second reading) is when public comment is formally taken before adoption.

Frustrations were high as council member Rick Stwally was first to suggest that they just "call it off," And while a motion was made to adjourn the meeting, attorney Dittman reminded council and the mayor that there was still another order of business set for this meeting.

After hearing the second order of business, citizen Cassandra Torres stood up to comment on the ordinance. She took out a piece of paper with notes, front and back to tell the council she was familiar with the decisions they were making. She said it wasn't long ago that she sat in their seat as a council member and understands how hard it can be.

She wanted to encourage council to seek out positions and serve on boards. Torres also mentioned pertaining to the proposed ordinance of the pay revision that she would like to see them consider a "Pay for Performance" type format.

Council voted to table the ordinance and not take action on it, as presented.

The meeting adjourned after just 29 minutes.

After the meeting, Las Animas residents Doug and Missy Rickin stayed to say they know Mayor Shupe works hard. Shupe has worked to start a police department, secure grants, and was able to improve the park. They felt he deserved to be compensated for that work.

Posted below is a comparison of the current pay scale and the proposed under the ordinance that council would have been considering.