Posted on: October 4th, 2013

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Minutes of the August 12, 2013, Town Meetin 

Next Town Meeting is Monday, October 14, 2013, 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center

The meeting was called to order by Chair Amy Hardy.  Eleven people attended: John and Cherry Sand,  Member-at-Large Debra Yeager, Mary Ryan, Tony and Bobby Vrba, Peter Swift, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Chair Amy, Treasurer Adriana Galue, and Mishie Littlefield (our new teacher).

Minutes of the June 12 meeting were approved as published.

Treasurer’s Report  – Adriana reports that she now does almost everything electronically.  Once again, we did not get our tax-exempt forms on time.  They came sometime in June and were all muddy.  We have been assessed a penalty and she is trying to get a refund.  The next treasurer will need to follow up on this.  She suggested that we abolish some of the separate funds, since there has been no activity for several years (i.e., trails, forest management).  We can always allocate funds again if needed.  Also, when we established the Fire Fund most donors wanted the money spent on “fire related” causes.  There is $13,331.03 in the fund.  She suggested that any “firewise” activities would qualify or even something that would bring people together, like a town garden.  We did distribute $6,000 to individuals affected by the fire and contributed matching funds to the chipping grant from last year.  Mishie wondered if we should invest some of these funds in something interest bearing and Adriana concurred.

The question was raised about what it takes to be a “Firewise Community.”  Amy replied that we need to apply and complete at least one community project per year.  This would help us get grants, etc.  See http://www.firewise.org for the requirements and protocols.

General Fund                          3,244.65                        Fire Fund                        $13,331.03

Cemetery Fund              3,110.21                        Community Planning                     82.00

Forest Mgmt                               75.22                        Weed Mgmt                               526.70

Historic Zoning                   11.23                        Trails                                             31.29

Safe Site                               170.22

Total $20,582.55

The General Fund is mainly funds from our Bake/Rummage/Crafts sale in the fall.  Adriana advocates being wise with our money.  We did lower the cost of our liability insurance.  We will incur some additional expenses if we get the tax lien lots.  Martha is checking on the status of these lots.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Community Planning/Trails – no report

Historical Zoning – no report

Forest Management/CWPP –  no report

Fire Department – Bobby reports that they are getting stuff done – new windows, easement signed for the subdivision cistern, training, the cisterns at the Firebarn fill from the gutters and they are full.  Main calls have been camp fires and smoke reports.

Weed Management – Gretchen read Susan Fernalld’s emailed report: Please forgive me for not being with you in person.  My sleep disorder increases with age, and by now I don’t get to most night meetings.  Our teachers invited me to teach a class on invasive weeds to kids at our Gold Hill School on Aug. 29, followed by a weed pull along Gold Hill roads.  The Gold Hill website has a weed section with color pictures of our worst weeds here and extensive advice on appropriate eradication methods for each.  In the invasive weed section (under Community Information), scroll down and click on “How to control weeds.”  The pictures are toward the bottom of that article (by Irene Shonle).  If you need help with weed identification, Susan’s phone is 303-447-0634, email is sfernalld@nullmsn.com.

Historic Gold Hill – Gretchen reports that the 2014 calendars have gone to the printer.  John reports that the museum has had lots of visitors and looks good.  They’re open Sat. and Sun. from 11-4, but if you have a group who would like to see it, call John or one of the other board members and they will get you in.

Mining – Gretchen reports that she has seen no real activity, except that there was an apparent break in attempt.  They are up to do regular water sampling and she has heard that Mark Steen is looking for new investors.

Gold Hill School – Mishie reports that that they will be getting a new Facebook page “Friends of the Gold Hill School.”  The School District has applied for STEM Grants for the Mountain Communities, Gold Hill, Jamestown, and Nederland.  We get to make up our own curriculum and are hoping to study our own fire and what happens afterward: forestry, ecology, wildlife.  Still looking to hire a para-pro (addendum – they have hired Johanna Morrison!).  They will have 20-25 kids.  Come look at the beautiful garden Chrissy has created.

Safe Site – Amy reports that she is putting together a spreadsheet with all the ways that the mountain communities communicate.  She and Adriana are moving to Ward, so she is designating Debra Yeager as the person in charge, but Amy will continue to work on it.  She is working with Deb and Gretchen to get the Safe Site/Neighborlink protocols finalized and published on the town website.  Chris Finn would like a detailed list of stuff in the shed and the combination.  Dave Sturtz is the liason between the Safe Site and the GHFPD as well as our MERN (Mountain Emergency Radio Network) rep.  We are lucky to have a repeater here in Gold Hill.  The MERN folks in Allenspark (men)  and Ward (women) have weekly check ins with each other.

OLD BUSINESS

Traffic Study – Amy distributed traffic maps (to see the map, go to our website (goldhilltown.com) and click on the Gold Hill Town Meeting heading on the left.  You will have to click on the “read more” button, for some reason, to see the map. Their data showed that 85% of people were travelling an average 17.4 mph or less.  Some people thought the measurement equipment was too conspicuous. Leslie in County Engineering would like to have a meeting with the community re: any particular trouble areas.  Peter will follow up with her.

Report on Meeting with the Fire Board – Bear put out an email to report that he did talk to the Fire Board (FB) regarding the Community Center and the bathroom issue and various options to solve it, but did not address larger communication issues, etc.  Lots of discussion followed.  Max heard from someone in the County that we would be allowed to build an outhouse on top of the holding tank, but Deb heard the FB was not interested in this.  Amy said that Gold Hill loses out on lots of opportunities (IMA meetings, etc) if we have no good place to meet with a bathroom.  Peter wondered about building a small community center somewhere.  Bob Mason had suggested the tax lien lots.  Adriana reported that the Community Foundation granted thousands of dollars to the Fire Department and they might contribute something to a Community Center, which they could also use.  Mishie said that the Sunshine FD built a wonderful meeting space that everyone uses.  We do have new a FB – it’s all about community members showing up to improve communications.  Adriana reports that when she was on the FB she checked and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) governs Fire Districts and that the Fire Boards are accountable to their local community.  Bobby, who is on the FB, reported that they met with the department’s attorney, Dick Lyons, for 3 hours and will be operating by the book, there will be some changes, they will be making public reports and posting their minutes on the website (goldhillfire.org).

NEW BUSINESS

Bake/Rummage/Craft Sale – Deb reports that we are scheduled for September 22 at the Beer Garden and she plans to pretty much mimic last year – Baked goods, Brats & Beer, artisans booths, rummage.  More later on this.

Septic Issues – Peter and Jack Laughlin are going a meeting scheduled for Thursday with the Health Department.  He and Jack will be asking questions about what actual problems exist and looking for flexibility.

ELECTIONS –

Some great new people stepped up!  Our new Chair is Peter Swift, although he took some encouraging, Both Peter and Gretchen were nominated, but when Peter agreed to serve, Gretchen moved that we elect him by acclamation. Deb nominated Tony Vrba and she agreed to be Member-at-Large.  Thanks to you two. A few agreed to stay on – Bear Carlson will stay as Vice-Chair and Gretchen will continue as Secretary (someone is going to have to take this over sometime).  All were elected by acclamation.  We did not find anyone to become Treasurer. Adriana generously agreed to carry-on as we look for someone (as well as help the new person to get up to speed.  Peter expressed heartfelt thanks to our retiring members – Amy Hardy, Adriana Galue, and Deb Yeager – and everyone clapped and cheered, as well as thanking the continuing members and the new volunteers

Addendum: Per the bylaws 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.

We are very happy to report that Martha Knapp has agreed to serve as Treasurer and the rcouncil members unanimously approved her.  Thank you, Martha.  We need you.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary