Posted on: February 6th, 2019

The town of Gold Hill has had some form of local government since its founding as a mining camp in 1859. On January 28, 1970, the Gold Hill Town Meeting (GHTM) was incorporated, and we became a 501(c)4, a tax-exempt organization under the IRS. Its primary purpose is to hold town meetings and provide a forum for community discussion and a basis for community action, as well as to hold property, for instance, the Cemetery and the northern part of the Town Meadow.

The Gold Hill Town Meeting (GHTM) has been in operation since 1859, serving as the central hub of civic life in our mountain community. It became an established nonprofit organization in 1970 and, as of 2015, is recognized as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3), making donations to the GHTM tax-deductible.

The GHTM raises operating funds at various community events throughout the year and helps coordinate efforts that support the health, safety, and vibrancy of Gold Hill. In addition to sponsoring this website, the GHTM supports community-wide communications, emergency preparedness planning, historical preservation, forest management, road safety initiatives, the annual Spring Cleanup, and community engagement projects. It also works closely with other local organizations and committees on issues such as wildfire mitigation, senior support, sustainable tourism, and youth involvement.

Town meetings are held six times a year—in February, April, June, August, October, and December—on the second Monday of the month. Meetings are accessible both in person and via Zoom, and all residents are encouraged to attend and participate.

Our yearly elections were held on Monday, August 12, 2024.    The current Town Council now consists  of

 To contact, please email

Chair – Dan Maedke          ghtownmeeting@nullgmail.com

Vice Chair – Kelly Viet  ghtmvicechair@nullgmail.com

Secretary – Gretchen Diefenderfer  gretchend@nullmac.com

Treasurer – Chrissy Maedke     ghtmtreasurer@nullgmail.com

Member at Large – John Hatlelid       ghtmmemberatlarge@nullgmail.com

 

Map of the area

 

 Indigenous Land Acknowledgement: 

The Gold Hill Town Meeting recognizes that the town of Gold Hill sits upon land within the ancestral territories of the Núuchiu (Ute), Tsistsistas (Cheyenne), and Hinono’eiteen (Arapaho), as well as many other indigenous peoples, that were illegally and unjustly taken from the tribes.  We recognize that our town’s founding and the subsequent populating of Boulder County came at a dire cost to Native Nations and peoples whose traditional hunting grounds this community was built upon. 

We recognize the indigenous peoples as the original stewards of this land.  We honor and respect the people of these Nations and their ancestors. We also recognize that Indigenous knowledge, oral histories, and languages handed down through generations have shaped profound cultural and spiritual connections with Boulder-area lands and ecosystems — connections that are sustained and celebrated to this day.  As these words of acknowledgment are spoken and heard, the ties Nations have to their traditional homelands are renewed and reaffirmed by the Gold Hill community.

 

These bylaws were approved on 3-10-2025

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

 

Nondiscrimination Statement:

The Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc., does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender expression, age, citizenship status, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, election of Town Council members, participation by any members of the Town Meeting area, selection of volunteers or vendors, or potential hiring and firing of any staff. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc., its partners, guests and attendees, volunteers, subcontractors and vendors.

 

Values Statement:

We embrace our responsibility to co-create a world where each of us, our community, and our town can flourish, all the while, celebrating our unique environment and history.

1. What: Historic Preservation, Disaster Mitigation, Environmental Stewardship, Resilience, Community Engagement, Human Services
2. Why: Social Flourishing, Cultivating Long-Term relationships, Community Wellness, Business Sustainability, Environmental Health
   
3. How: Communication, Inclusivity, Respect, Kindness, Collaboration, Volunteerism, Non-Partisan, Fun

 

Mission Statement:

We work for the betterment of the town of Gold Hill by improving quality of life and quality of environment.  Through historic preservation, natural resource conservation, environmental restoration, education, human services and community engagement, we ensure our residents and natural surroundings are able to thrive.

Vision Statement:

The Gold Hill Town Meeting is working towards a future where Gold Hill is and continues to be a place where residents have a strong community, are able to flourish socially, where residents are safe and have their basic needs met and are able to live in harmony with the natural environment. 

 

Article I, Name, Purpose, and Mailing Address

Section A, Name: The name of this organization is: Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. (GHTM)

Section B, 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 action 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 C, Mailing Address: The mailing address of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. shall be:

1011 Main Street

Boulder, CO  80302-8777.

 

Article II, Membership

Section A, Eligibility:

All residents and property owners within the Gold Hill Fire Protection District who are over the age of 18 are members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting and have voting rights. Each member is entitled to cast one vote on any issue that requires a vote by the GHTM membership, regardless of the number of properties owned.

 

Article III, Members Meetings

Section A, General Membership Meetings:

The GHTM will hold general membership meetings a minimum of six times per year on a regularly established schedule.  Changes from the previously announced schedule can be made, giving members reasonable notice.  These meetings may be held electronically and/or in person, as decided by the Town Council.  Meeting minutes will be recorded and promptly distributed to the membership.

Section B, Town Council Election Meeting:

The annual election of Town Council members shall take place during a general membership meeting in August.

Section C, Budget Meeting:

The GHTM will approve a budget before the start of the next fiscal year.  The Gold Hill Town Meeting must establish a policy for submitting requests from the budget. 

Section D, Special Meetings:  

Special meetings are additional general membership meetings called to address urgent concerns or expedite town business. Special meetings of the GHTM may be called by the Chair:

1. Upon the written request of at least three members of the Town Council, or
2. By a petition requesting a special meeting, signed by at least twenty members of the GHTM.

Section E, Written Notice:

The Town Council must provide notice of the date, time, location, and agenda for any general membership or special meeting at least two weeks in advance. Notice may be given through various methods, including, but not limited to, electronic notification to individuals on the town’s mailing list, news outlets, the town website, or social media within the GHTM member area.

Section F, Quorum:  

A quorum for a GHTM general membership meeting is required to call for a membership vote. A quorum is considered present if:

• At least three of the five members of the Town Council, and
• At least five other members of the GHTM

are in attendance to conduct any business.

 

Article IV, Conflicts

Section A, Conflict of Interest:  

To ensure Town Council members fulfill their duties of loyalty to the organization and maintain transparency with the membership, the Town Council will establish a Conflict of Interest policy. This policy requires all Town Council members to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest—financial or otherwise—that may affect their ability to act in the best interests of the organization.

Town Council members must disclose such conflicts in writing at least once a year, and whenever a conflict arises. Any member with a conflict of interest is required to recuse themselves from discussions or decisions related to that matter.

Section B, Membership Code of Conduct:  

The Gold Hill Town Meeting will establish a written Code of Conduct policy to govern participation in general membership meetings, events, and other official communications. The Code of Conduct encourages the expression of opinions and viewpoints in a civil manner while prohibiting the use of abusive language or behavior that is disrespectful to others or disrupts the orderly conduct of business.

If a participant violates the Code of Conduct, the Town Council may impose consequences. These may include, but are not limited to, asking the individual to leave a meeting or prohibiting further contact with Town Council members.

 

Article V, Town Council

Section A, Members:

The Town Council shall consist of five members: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Member-at-Large.

Section B, Eligibility:

All members of the Town Council must be voting members of the GHTM, as defined in these bylaws. Additionally, the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer must have resided within the GHTM area for at least nine consecutive months prior to their election.

Section C, Term of Office:

Each Town Council member shall serve a one-year term or until a successor is duly elected and qualified. A Town Council member may resign at any time by submitting written notice to the Town Council. The resignation will take effect as specified in the notice, and, unless otherwise indicated, no formal acceptance is required for it to become effective.

Section D, Removal:  

A Town Council member may be removed through the following procedure:

1. Removal may be proposed by:
   • Any Town Council member, or
   • At least ten GHTM members through a written petition.
2. The proposed removal must be included in the agenda for the general membership meeting and distributed to the members at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
3. Removal requires a two-thirds majority vote of the membership present at a general membership meeting where a quorum of Town Council members is present. The member proposed for removal does not count towards the quorum for the meeting.

Section E, When a Town Council Member Moves: 

Any Town Council member who becomes ineligible for election under Article IV, Section 2, and does not voluntarily resign, shall be deemed to have resigned from the Town Council, and their position will be considered vacant.

Section F, Vacancies: 

Any vacancy shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the term, made by a majority of the Town Council members, within two weeks of its occurrence or as soon as practical.

Section G, 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 H, Town Council Duties:

The Town Council is responsible for overseeing the organization’s business and properties and for fulfilling all duties under Colorado state law for nonprofit corporations, as well as those outlined in these bylaws. Each Town Council member will perform the duties typically associated with their office and any additional responsibilities as designated by the Town Council. 

 

Article VI, Committees

Section A, 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 B, Creation: 

At a member’s 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 C, 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 D, Dissolution: 

At a member’s 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 VII, Contracts, Checks, Deposits, Etc.

Section A, 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 B, 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 C, 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 D, 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 VIII, Amendments

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

Section A, Proposal:  

Bylaw changes may be proposed at a general membership meeting where a quorum is present. Proposed changes will be presented and discussed on a section-by-section basis.

Section B, Notice:

Proposed additions, deletions, or amendments to the bylaws must be included in the meeting minutes of the general membership meeting and distributed to members at least two weeks prior to the next general membership meeting.

Section C, Approval:  

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 IX, Dissolution

This Corporation may be dissolved according to the following procedure:

Section A, Proposal:

At a general membership meeting where a quorum is present, the dissolution of the corporation may be proposed by a simple majority of the members present.

Section B, Notice:  

The proposed dissolution of the corporation must be included in the agenda for the general membership meeting and distributed to members at least two weeks prior to the next general membership meeting.

Section C, Approval:  

At the next general membership meeting, the dissolution of the corporation may be adopted by a three-quarters majority of the members of Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. who are present.

Upon dissolution of the GHTM, any remaining funds shall first be used to settle any outstanding bills, and, with the approval of the Town Council, may be spent for the benefit of the town of Gold Hill.

 

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