Posted on: September 19th, 2025

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the September 8, 2025  Zoom and in person Special  Town Meeting

Next Special Town Meeting is Wednesday, September 24, 7:00 p.m., in person at the Firebarn and by Zoom

Next Regular Meeting will be Monday, October 13th in person at the Firebarn, and by Zoom

The meeting was called to order by Chair Kelly Veit.  Present were Kelly, Rick Sheingold, Janos Wilder, Boyd Brown, Elisabeth Caspari, Marcus Moench, Bear Carlson, Treasurer Martha Knapp, Vice Chair Kaitlyn Barthnell, Member at Large John Hatelid, and Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer.  Val Crist attended by Zoom.

Kelly handed out this updated agenda:

Quick Update – New Funding Opportunity

Bylaw Revisions –

           Taking a Step Back – How we Got Here and What are our shared values for continuing?

           Review of Bylaws

1. (Cont. from August) Article 3 – Members Meetings & Article 5-Town Council 
2. (Expressed Concerns on approved Bylaws) Article 2, Section A and Article 3, Section A
3. (Time permitting, Not yet approved) Article 2 – Membership, Article 5, Sections H and J – Town Council, Article 6 – Committees, Article 7 – Financials

Quick Recap – How We Got Here

1. Bylaws were elevated as needing more clarity in order to remain up to current times, compliance, etc.
2. Mountain Stewards expressed a desire for strong bylaws for grant purposes (more accountability structures, ability to move in timely manner
3. Work with non-profit lawyer (thank you, Chrissy) to understand best practices in bylaws
4. Review of Bylaws in Town Meeting for 1,000,000 years (</:o ) – from Spring/Summer 2024 to today

Is there a way to reframe the bylaws conversation to honor the values of the GHTM Members?

How can we see ourselves best reflected in the bylaw efforts?

Stepping Back to the “why” – Shared Values

I’m curious – Can we find consensus on a shared reason, philosophy, value or principle that brings meaning and purpose to the bylaws?

For Example – 

1. We agree that having clearer language in our Bylaws is important for our community to move quickly on grant oped as well as the ones still under consideration

What do you see as the value or opportunity in updating the bylaws?  Can we agree to move them ahead, in service of these values?    Kelly Veit

Followed by the bylaws – the one that have been changed as well as the ones still under consideration

And the meeting began.  It was brought up that at issue is whether we want to continue as an Open Town Meeting (most purely democratic and our original form) or a more Representative Town Meeting (TM).  Marcus sees this grant issue as threading the needle on the question and added that, ideally, we’d get a larger group in order to be more representative .  When he was Chair, he wanted it to be more representative, but still felt that the town needed to vote on issues like “do we want to pursue wildfire mitigation?”  Currently, we have a grant opportunity which is due September 14, which is brought forward by informal group alliances like Mountain Stewards.  If the town says at the beginning that these are our goals and we want the Chair to be authorized to represent us with the County, without giving the Chair full license to act, but having established a priority area on this issue for the Chair, that’s one way.  We’d still have a fiscal sponsor to manage the $ as we did with the Boulder Watershed Collective (BWSC) on the last grant for the mitigation work.

Elisabeth added that Martha and Gretchen seem to have a clear idea of what the TM has been.  Gretchen said that we could have a committee (a mitigation committee, or a grants committee?) or we could vote to have the TC empowered to pursue and follow through on a given issue, but traditionally, most do not want the TC to be empowered to pursue whatever and then just let the town know what’s happening later.  

Marcus reports that this latest grants are for either $50,000 or $1,000,000 and would include funding and support for low income people and seniors, with mitigation and home hardening, battery back up especially for emergency communication, and other safety issues.

The consensus seems to be that we need to agree on some value statements and principles to make this grant process work smoothly and to give some designated people the power to move on them.  People dealing in the grant world need to have the info about support regarding what the grant is going to do and involve and require of us.  We’d need to write a letter of support and hold meetings and someone designated to say the TM supports and will follow through.  Dan said that our present structure is unclear about who is allowed to do what – the bylaws were not clear.  We have amended the last bylaws and we could stop there – they’re fine the way they are now – we don’t have to do the goals tonight.  Bear added that this grant opportunity seems like a wonderful opportunity.  Rick Sheingold asked who currently have been the group or committee who handled this big project.  Marcus said it’s the Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant and has been managed by the BWSC and the Boulder Valley Conservation District.  Mountain Stewards has been our local group – an informal group of people formed independently (not formed by the TM) to address issues like mitigation and energy and involves some people not in the TM area.  They report to the TM.  The question was asked , if the TM can authorize a committee how is that different from the Chair and Vice Chair?  It would have to do with being empowered to handle specific issues.  John pointed out that, whether an appointed committee or elected TC, the legal responsibility/liability would still fall on the TC.  Martha suggested that the Cemetery Committee handles its own funds and issues – they do get people to sign releases.  Dan replied that we (the TC) have come into some risks – more risks with bigger grants.  Janos stated that we have to have Board and Officers Liability Insurance – it’s SOP.  Marcus added that the town does own land and we do have liability insurance.  Rick pointed out that there’s a reason people come together and it’s to provide greater opportunities for the group.  The collective is valuable to the health of the community as a whole.

Boyd reported that we’ve been looking into becoming a Firewise Community as well and wonders if the community of GH wants that designation.  The TM would need to support that.

Martha wondered, if some people want to go in the direction of getting all these grants, possible that group should look into forming their own 501(c)3.  Marcus replied that most grant people favor evidence of greater community support and buy in.  Most grants would see GHTM as a sub recipient with the BWSC or others as fiscal agent, but there does need to be a good sense of community support.  Key thing here is that, for the TM to be part of this process we need someone to sign the letter of commitment and help organize the required meetings – has low liability.

John made a motion to remand to the Chair the responsibility to look over this grant and then sign the letter, to support the grant and community meetings.  Janos felt we should not miss the step of the chair or a committee to approve the letter.  Pure Democracy is cumbersome , but also it is good to have the group make decisions – seems like that’s the way we want to go.  The vote was 10 yays with 2 abstentions.

Val questioned how we are going to identify our values.  Elisabeth wondered if we should have another Special TM.  Marcus said yes and need to look at our original articles of incorporation and bylaws and have that as a basis for a discussion of our broader values.

Martha stated we need to wrap this meeting up and made a motion to hold another Special Town Meeting in two weeks to discuss the articles of incorporation before getting into the weeds of the bylaws.  Marcus seconded it and the vote to approve was unanimous – 12 in favor.  Martha will also look into our liability insurance.

As far as where to hold the meeting, Dan reported the school is under scrutiny right now and the proper way would be to rent the school, have monitors, etc., and it’s expensive.  We’ll look into the Community Center (the upstairs of the Firebarn).  Kelly again mentioned our need to Step Back to Step Forward.

Marcus made a motion to adjourn, Martha seconded, Bear suggested we take a standing vote, and we adjourned at around 8:30.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary.