The Town of Pagosa Springs is continuing to look for applicants to fill two vacancies on town council, according to an update given by Town Manager Greg Schulte at council’s meeting Tuesday evening, July 5.
The vacancies were created by the resignations for personal reasons last month of former councilors Kathie Lattin and Clint Alley. Lattin represented council District 1, and Alley was elected as an at-large councilor.
Under the town’s Home Rule Charter, council will select replacements from eligible applicants to fill the unexpired terms.
Lattin’s term has nearly two years remaining and the recently re-elected Alley’s nearly four.
Schulte reported that some expressions of interest have been received; however, applications have not yet been submitted.
Persons eligible for appointment are those who have been town residents for at least one full year, and of District 1 with respect to the seat formerly held by Lattin. Also, to be eligible, residents must be U.S. citizens and registered voters, and not previously convicted felons. Town employees are ineligible.
The town advertised the vacancies in recent editions of The SUN. The ad, which provides details of the application process, appears again in today’s edition. Applications will need to be submitted by July 14.
According to Town Clerk April Hessman, council will vote on applications for appointment to the seats following a public hearing on July 21. Applicants will be afforded an opportunity to make a statement and may be asked questions. In the event of multiple applicants for either seat, the vote will be by secret ballot.
Lattin was first elected to represent District 1 on town council in 2010.
She advised The SUN on June 21 that she was required to resign her seat due to moving her residence to a home outside of town.
District 1 lies roughly west of Hot Springs Boulevard and south of U.S. 160 as far as 6th Street, and then south of Durango Street further west. A map of the town’s districts appears in the Home Rule Charter.
According to Schulte, Alley was initially elected to his at-large seat on council in 2012. He had to resign due to his recent acceptance of new employment, which requires travel conflicting with council meetings.
