ADMINISTRATOR’S MONTHLY UPDATE
for the TOWN BOARD OF TRUSTEES and the MANCOS COMMUNITY
March 2016
This Monthly Update is a supplemental report for inclusion in the Town Board of Trustees agenda packet, distributing to the community, and for posting on the Town website. It is for informational purposes. Items herein may or may not warrant Board of Trustees discussion, and do not require action unless noted on the meeting agenda.
STAFF TRAINING AND CONFERENCES
Professional development opportunities for town staff are important for personal and organizational development. Town staff has been busy attending conferences and taking courses towards licensure. Last month, Jeff Watenpaugh, Maintenance Supervisor, tested for and received the Water Treatment “Class D” Operator license. Terry Jenkins, Public Works Tech III, recently tested for and received both Collection “Class 1” and Distribution “Class 1” Operator licenses through the Colorado Operator Certification Program Office. The Mancos Marshal’s Office also spends time on important training through Colorado POST (police officers standards and training). Deputies have completed the following trainings to date for 2016: Intoxilyzer I-9000 operator course, defensive driving, Ethics in Law Enforcement, firearms qualifications, Community Policing, Mexican Cartel, Racial Profiling I and II, and Anti-Bias Training for Law Enforcement. Andrea Phillips, Town Administrator, is completing a one-year certificate program through CU-Denver as a Colorado Certified Public Manager. She also attended the annual Colorado City County Managers Association conference in February. Each department has an Annual Training Plan that outlines the professional development opportunities that employees will complete throughout the year.
LIVESTOCK ORDINANCES
Two ordinances are being formulated to regulate livestock-type animals in town limits. There are proposed changes to both the Land Use Code (Chapter 16) and Chapter 7: Health, Sanitation and Animals. These draft ordinances have been developed after seeking public input in various forms-a town-wide written survey, open public meetings and public hearings at the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Trustees, and through the work of a citizen task force, which made recommendations. The goals of the ordinances are to provide options for residences wishing to raise certain livestock while mitigating impacts on neighboring properties. At this time, the draft ordinances are ready for review by the Board of Trustees and will be on the March 9th and March 23rd Board of Trustees meeting agendas for discussion, public hearing and action.
INNOVATION TEAMS
Town staff is working on finding solutions to identified problems within town operations. Staff have been tasked with forming a team, identifying a problem, and coming up with solutions and an implementation plan to address the issue. Teams are cross-departmental in most cases. Innovation Teams will present their ideas on March 25th during the quarterly all-staff meeting. The goal of this project is to encourage out of the box thinking and to facilitate a culture of continuous improvement. Identified projects include: 1) increasing dog licensure rates and engaging the public about dog nuisance issues; 2) developing a master schedule for the Streets team to better manage staff time and resources; 3) creation of an updated emergency contact list for area businesses and organizations; and 4) developing an emergency response plan for the town’s water treatment and distribution system.
MANCOS MARSHAL RECRUITMENT
The hiring process for the new Town Marshal is underway. Fifteen applications were received and eight individuals were interviewed. From that pool, three finalists have been selected to advance in the process. On March 10th, the public is invited to a Community Meet and Greet from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Mancos Community Center. Citizens can ask the candidates questions and get to know them better. Feedback will be solicited during this process. Finalists will also undergo two panel interviews which include an oral board interview comprised of representatives from area law enforcement agencies and a mixed panel interview with representatives from the town board and area stakeholders. A polygraph, integrity test, skills test, physical by a medical doctor, psychological evaluation, FBI background check, drug test, and background investigation by an independent firm will also be required. The town hopes to extend an offer of employment by the end of March.
