SchulteInterim Town Manager Greg Schulte, who took over as the top administrator for the Town of Pagosa Springs following the resignation of David Mitchem earlier this year, was offered the job — without the “interim” designation — last week.
At the beginning of Thursday’s meeting, Mayor Don Volger explained the council would be working under a two-hour time limit for both the regular town council meeting and the subsequent Pagosa Springs Sanitation and General Improvement District meeting because at 2 p.m. the council was scheduled to begin a series of executive sessions to interview the top four applicants for the manager job.
Shortly after 6 p.m. Town Clerk April Hessman sent an email to SUN staff explaining the council had come out of its executive sessions and council member Kathie Lattin made a motion directing the mayor, council member David Schanzenbaker and Hessman to open negotiations with Schulte, who was the council’s No. 1 choice for town manager. Council member Tracy Bunning seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
In a phone interview with SUN staff on Tuesday of this week, Schulte confirmed he was offered the job, the above contract negotiation team was still writing a proposed contract, which he had not seen yet, and “the goal is to have that contract approved at the September second meeting.”
On Aug. 7, Hessman sent out a press release announcing the town had received 71 applications for the job and had narrowed the field down to four finalists. Besides Schulte, these finalists included Regan Bolli, David Hook and Catherine Sinnard.
Bolli is currently the town manager for Ephraim City, Utah, where he has served since 2010. Previously, Bolli worked from 2007 to 2010 at Hansen Wright Eddy & Haws law firm in Pleasant Grove, Utah, and before that he was adjunct professor of business law at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, and judicial law clerk in the Denver District Court.
Bolli’s experience included project management, financial operations, economic development including main street revitalization, historic preservation, strategic planning, infrastructure development, analysis, media relations and creating public-private partnerships fostering creativity and enthusiasm.
Bolli holds a bachelor of arts degree in American studies from Brigham Young University and a juris doctor from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law.
Hook is currently the town manager for the Town of Grand Lake, Colo., where he has served since February 2012. Previously, Hook served from April 2008 to February 2012 as the senior project manager for Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz. Before that, he was vice president/branch manager of Engineering and Environmental Consultants Inc. in Tucson, Ariz., and town engineer and water utility director for the Town of Oro Valley, Ariz.
In these capacities, Hook has experience in management, leadership and strategic initiatives. Local government experience includes finance, human resources, economic development, operations/administration, intergovernmental relationships and customer service.
Hook holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Purdue University, a certificate in public management from Indiana University, and a master of arts degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.
Sinnard served from March 2005 to January 2013 as the town manager for the Town of Monument, Colo. Previously, Sinnard served as the director of planning and senior planner for the City of Pueblo.
Sinnard has experience in leadership, management and collaboration with government agencies and complex partnerships. Her experience includes a variety of functional areas, including human resources, finance and economic development.
Sinnard holds a bachelor of arts degree in geography and political science from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a master of planning and community development from the University of Colorado, Denver, and completed the senior executives in state and local government program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Schulte is currently serving as the interim town manager for the Town of Pagosa Springs, since June 2014. Previously, Schulte served as the assistant county administrative officer for San Luis Obispo County, Calif., from December 2012 to July 2013, and before that he was the county administrator for Archuleta County, and administration division manager in the development services department and administrative officer in the economic development department for the City of Sacramento, Calif.
Schulte has extensive experience in government management and collaboration with town, cities, districts, counties and state organizations. His management experience includes finance, human services, public works, buildings and grounds, planning and building, senior services, housing authority, human resources, veteran services and the county airport.
Schulte holds a bachelor of arts degree from California Polytechnic State University and completed the senior executives in state and local government program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and was awarded the Colorado County Administrator of the Year award in 2009.
