Posted on: January 26th, 2019

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the December 10, 2018 Town Meeting

 Next Town Meeting will be Monday, February 11, 2019, 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center

 The meeting was called to order by Chair Tony Vrba.  Fifteen people attended including Tony, Poppy Copeland, Bear Carlson, Maggie Simms, Dina Elder, Vice Chair Marielle Sidell, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Lacey Story, Peter Swift, Richard Oxley, Caroline Ashley and several people associated with NRCS (National Resources Conservation Service) attended to talk about Wildfire Mitigation – Dan Allen (dadallen0@nullgmail.com), Maya MacHamer (fourmilewatershed@nullgmail.com), Daniel Bowker (daniel.bowker2@nullco.usda.gov) and Brian Walton (brian.walton@nullusda.gov  720-378-5528).

Daniel Bowker, Conservation Forester with NRCS, spoke about modern fire suppression efforts, which have resulted in overcrowded forests with too much undergrowth versus the situation with natural fires in the past, which took out the smaller trees and fuels leaving more widely spaced larger trees.  Our modern efforts, now coupled with climate change, mean that our forests are more and more susceptible to big fires.  The NRCS assists with major thinning projects as well as getting all the wood and slash out after cutting.  

            Caroline Ashley has ~150 acres which go way down the hill on the north side of town, and, although we worked on mitigation efforts some years ago on the north slope, it only covered 13 acres, much of the debris was never cleared out, and there is a great deal left to be done plus a lot of regrowth.  She visited an effort that NRCS managed at Shambala ~100 acres – and it looks great – a very clean, efficient job.

            The NRCS-EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) for Forest Stand Improvement and Wildfire Mitigation involves: 1) Forester visits property with landowner, identifies resource concerns and landowner concerns, 2) Landowner registers property with Farm Services Agency, fills out NRCS EQIP application, 3) Forester completes forest inventory, creates Forest Management Plan, 4) EQIP contract built and signed, 5) Landowner/contractor performs agreed upon work, forester certifies units and 6) Upon completion of each work unit, landowner is reimbursed by NRCS.

            Forest stand improvement practices: $845-$1554/ac

            Slash treatment practices: $39-$282/ac

Marielle asked how we plan for a sustainable forest as we move into the hotter, drier future.  Dan said that we use the past as a touchstone and look at what can we do to get it back to what would be more fire resistant. A lot of research has been done.

            Dina asked if the NRCS has any projects working on soil health – the answer is nothing yet, but probably in the future.

            Lacey asked about the impact on the flora and fauna. Dan replied that this work really improves habitat systems.

            Maggie added that much of the property around here has slivers of BLM, Forest Service, and County land.  Dan said that there is a lot of proactive cooperation and coalition building happening.

Dan added that this mitigation process takes time and many meetings.  There will be many opportunities for input by all interested parties.

Minutes – Tony said that they had reviewed the December minutes before I arrived.  I reported that I had added the other members of the Sustainability Group.

Treasurer’s Report – Martha emailed her report

GHTM Treasurer’s Report

December 10, 2018.                                                                                                                                                 

At the previous regular Town Meeting in OCTOBER 2018 our bank balance was $15,365.22. Our current total cash assets are $13,313.39

Revenue Summary: Cemetery Fund donations of $100 and Gold Rush revenue of $194 total $294.

Expense Summary:  Cemetery $1831.93 for repairs and improvements, Safelink $463 for Gotenna project and General postage/office supplies $50.90 for total expenses $2345.83.

Fund transfers:  Approval at October meeting to move $1000 from the General Fund to Community Planning/Fundraising.  Note: The General Fund budget projection for Oct 2018-Oct 2019 is $1375.

Current fund totals:                                                                                               

General Fund $1,548.84; Cemetery $5,489.85; Community Relief $2,326.95; Forest Management $0; Safe Link (combined funds for SafeSite, AirLink, NeighborLink projects) $2,947.75; Community Planning/Fundraising $1000.

                                 

Bylaws Final Vote – Per our bylaws:

These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted according to the following procedure:

Section 1.  At a regularly scheduled meeting, where a quorum is present, Bylaw change(s) may be proposed by a simple majority of those members present.  Proposed Bylaw changes are to be made and approved section-by-section.

Section 2.  The proposed Bylaw sections(s), and the Bylaw section(s) that are intended to be replaced, must be included with the minutes of the meeting and distributed to the members at least two weeks prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 3.  At the next regularly scheduled meeting, the sections of the new Bylaws may be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. who are present.  Bylaw changes are to be voted on section-by-section.

Gretchen presented the changes that were approved at the December GHTM, for the second vote at this meeting, section-by-section, and all passed.  The Boundary Map of the GHFPD area was adopted as the area covered by the GHTM.

Here are the new bylaws!

Code of Bylaws of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc.

These bylaws were approved by unanimous vote at the second reading on 12-10-2018

Article I

Name, Purpose, and Mailing address

Section 1, Name: The name of this organization shall be Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. (GHTM)

Section 2, Purpose: The purpose of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall be:

1. To hold town meetings and provide a forum for community discussion and basis for community action, and to establish qualifications for participation therein.
2. To acquire, hold, sell, or lease real property for the general purpose of preserving the historical and natural setting of Gold Hill and the surrounding area.
3. To act as trustee.
4. To cooperate with the County Planning Department, County Health Department, and other departments of the County, State, or Federal government.
5. To take any and all other actions to improve, preserve, and benefit the community of Gold Hill and the surrounding area.
6. To apply for and receive government grants or assistance, to solicit funds and donations, and undertake or sponsor community fund-raising projects.
7. To do all other acts necessary or appropriate to promote the social welfare of the community of Gold Hill.

Section 3, Mailing address: The mailing address of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall be 1011 Main Street – Gold Hill, Boulder, CO  80302-8777.

 

Article II

Membership

Section 1, Eligibility: Those residing in the following area are members and may vote at town meetings, provided they fulfill the voting requirements set forth in Article II, Section 2, Qualification.   This area is identified as that included in the boundaries of the Gold Hill Fire Protection District (GHFPD)

Section 2, Qualifications: In order to vote, a member of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. must:

1. Be a minimum of 18 years of age.
2. Have lived in Gold Hill for sixty days during the twelve months prior to the meeting or for sixty days during the previous five years with no less than five days in any one year.
3. Be registered with the Secretary at the meeting.
4. Be present at the meeting to be certified to vote at that meeting.

Article III

Members’ Meetings

Section 1, Regular meetings: Regular meetings of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall be held six times each year: February, April, June, August, October, and December on the second Monday of the month at such time and place as may be determined by the Town Council.

Section 2, Annual meetings: The annual meeting of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall be held on the second Monday of August each year.  The election of Town Council members shall be held at the annual meeting.

Section 3, Budget Meeting: The annual budget meeting of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall be held annually at the October Town Meeting. The GHTM Treasurer shall submit estimated income and expenses for the following year.  Requests for funding from the general fund may be made by the various Committees or any constituency of the GHTM at this meeting, and at any regularly scheduled meeting. 

Section 4, Special meetings: Special meetings of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. may be called by the Chair:

1. At the request of at least three members of the Town Council.
2. By petition requesting a special meeting signed by at least twenty members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc.

Section 5, Written notice: Written notice of all members’ meetings shall be posted to the town website (goldhilltown.com), emailed to all members, and sent by U.S. Mail to those who request them at least two weeks prior to all regular, annual, and special meetings.

Section 6, Quorum: A quorum for a members’ meeting of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall exist if three of five members of the Town Council are present to transact any business to be presented in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation or Code of Bylaws.

 Article IV

Town Council

Section 1, Members: The Town Council shall consist of five members as follows: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Member at Large.

Section 2, Eligibility: The Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer must be a year round resident defined as an individual who has lived within the bounds of the Gold Hill Town Meeting area at least nine consecutive months prior to the election.  All five council members shall be a minimum of 18 years of age.

Section 3, Term of Office: Each council member shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified.   Any council member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Town Council.  Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and, unless otherwise specified, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 4, Removal: Any council member may be removed according to the following procedure:

1. At a scheduled meeting, where a quorum is present, the removal of a council member may be proposed by a simple majority of those members present.
2. The proposed removal of a council member must be included with the minutes of the meeting and distributed to the members at least two weeks prior to the next r scheduled meeting.
3. At the next scheduled meeting, the council member may be removed by a majority vote of the Gold Hill Town Meeting.

Section 5, When a council member moves: Any council member, other than the member-at large, shall automatically resign upon moving from within the area bounded by the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc.

Section 6, Vacancies: Any vacancy must be filled for the remainder of the term by appointment by a majority of the council members within two weeks of its occurrence.

Section 7, Town Council meetings: A meeting of the Town Council may be called by any member of the Town Council by giving notice to all members of the Town Council at least two days prior to such meeting.  Town Council meetings are for discussion.  No decisions(s) reached at a Town Council Meeting are binding on the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. or the Town Council, or any member of the Town Council.

Section 8, Town Council Duties: Each Town Council member shall have the duties ordinarily attending the office held and other duties as the Town Council may designate.

Article V

Committees

Section 1, Purpose: Committees of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. may be established for the purpose of carrying out the business of the meeting.  They are to make reports at members’ meetings. Their findings will be approved and published, as appropriate, by the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. 

Section 2, Creation: At a members’ meeting of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc., when a quorum is present, the Chair, with the approval of the members at the meeting, may appoint a committee chair and ask for other members to be part of that committee.

Section 3, Cemetery Committee:  Before the Gold Hill Town Meeting incorporated, the Cemetery Committee existed independently.  The Cemetery Committee shall remain autonomous in expenditures from its funds.

Section 4, Dissolution: At a members’ meeting of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc., when a quorum is present, the Chair, with the approval of the members at the meeting, may dissolve a committee.

 

Article VI

Contracts, Checks, Deposits, Etc.

Section 1, Contracts: The Town Council, with the approval of the members at a duly called members’ meeting, may authorize any council member(s) or agent(s) of the Corporation to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of or on behalf of the Corporation.  Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 2, Checks, Drafts, Notes, Etc.: All checks, drafts, notes, etc., shall be signed and executed on behalf of the Corporation by those Town Council members authorized to sign checks for the Corporation.

Section 3, Deposits: All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Town Council, with the approval of the members at a duly called members’ meeting, may select.

Section 4, Gifts: The Town Council, with the approval of the members at a duly called members’ meeting, may accept on behalf of the Corporation any contribution, gift, or bequest

Article VII

Amendments

These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted according to the following procedure:

Section 1.  At a regularly scheduled meeting, where a quorum is present, Bylaw change(s) may be proposed by a simple majority of those members present.  Proposed Bylaw changes are to be made and approved section-by-section.

Section 2.  The proposed Bylaw sections(s), and the Bylaw section(s) that are intended to be replaced, must be included with the minutes of the meeting and distributed to the members at least two weeks prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 3.  At the next regularly scheduled meeting, the sections of the new Bylaws may be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. who are present.  Bylaw changes are to be voted on section-by-section.

Article VIII

Dissolution

This Corporation may be dissolved according to the following procedure:

Section 1.  At regularly scheduled meeting, where a quorum is present, dissolution of the corporation may be proposed by a simple majority of those members present.

Section 2.  The proposed dissolution of the corporation must be included with the minutes of the meeting and distributed to the members at least two weeks prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 3.  At the next regularly scheduled meeting, the dissolution of the corporation may be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. who are present.

 

Sustainability Plan Update – Tony reported that our group met with Susie Strife and Lea from Boulder County and submitted our $15,000 grant application.  They told us that this was probably unrealistic, partly because we are not an incorporated town.  They want out priorities more focused – fire mitigation is always a huge need, as well as aging issues and our need to have a place to be in an emergency situation and to be able to disseminate emergency information.  The County seems to be going with Seth Portner, CEO of Adaptation Services Group, to assist with implementation of community-based adaption programs in the areas of wildfire, earthquakes, energy, and drought.

            Dina added that Susie and Lea listened to us, and think they can sponsor something in the $2,000 range.  People who want to get an Energy Smart evaluation can get help from the County to help pay for a $450.00 energy audit.  Water is probably our biggest concern: sources (springs, etc.), testing, and obtaining water rights. They have talked about mapping the springs.  Possible future considerations would be having a community well/spring, water for additional firefighting or personal use.  They think the County would help us with this issue. The Climate Sustainability Study Evaluation is free.  Our audit would be different than the previous audits that have been done with Lyons, Ward, etc., as it is focused on climate impacts and how to mitigate issues involving droughts, extreme weather, hazard mitigation, vulnerable populations, etc. The audit guy is very in favor of the Community Center idea as a place for information collection, plans, etc.  What do we need in order to shelter in place when necessary in an emergency? 

 

Gold Hill Museum – Deb Yeager’s email report: The Gold Hill Museum has Switzerland Trail glasses for $6.00 each, calendars for $10, Gold Hill Block Print towels and Bluebird towels for $10, and shirts of the Switzerland Trail in a variety of styles and sizes and prices.  Contact Deb (449-0454, deb@nullmountainvisions.net) if you want anything.  Contact Marie Brookhart ((303) 444-4691, mom.brookhart@nullgmail.com) or the Gold Hill Store for calendars.

Cemetery Update – Maggie reported that they have spent $1831.  Bob and Andy got a lot of work done – new stairs and a guard rail, the foundation for a future shed, and a kiosk for a map and the general rules (i.e. instructions not to move stones, because many are future grave markers, etc.). Bob is pleased with the progress they’ve made.

Community Center Update – Peter reported that several of us went to a presentation of the students’ drawings and models.  Gretchen added that they were wonderfully creative and informative, incorporating aspects of the spirit of Gold Hill buildings.  Professor Loftin will generate PDFs of the work and photos of the 3D models and Peter will put copies at the Store for us to look at before the February 11^thTown Meeting.  We will be requesting input on the site as well as preferences for the architectural designs.  We own the little triangle behind the Red Store, down Lickskillet, which is what they were working with.  Our other town properties, including the Meadow, are Quit Claim Deeded from Boulder County and are restricted to Open Space and Park purposes.  We would have to investigate the possibility of an exception to use the piece of land just this side of the Colorado Mountain Ranch along Gold Hill Road.  The deed is in the town Safety Deposit Box and Gretchen will get a copy for the next meeting.

            Peter pointed out that we will need to proceed along in a step by step process now – title search, funding, etc.  He will put together a sheet listing pros and cons.

Resiliency – Dina reported that they have meshed with the Sustainability Group.  One plan for next year is to incorporate as their own 501(c)3, in order to support and encourage individual projects.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary