The Main Street Advisory Board held a regular meeting on Thursday, Aug. 1, at which three new members were recommended to join the board.
The board voted unanimously to recommend that the Pagosa Springs Town Council add Mario Garcia, Santos O’Cañas and Darren Gantt to the Main Street Advisory Board .
Each position will serve a two-year term.
Main Street Coordinator Kathleen McFadden indicated that the board received a total of five applications.
“Really delighted to report we had five wonderful applicants,” she said, noting that it was encouraging to see people want to be a part of the board.
During the board’s previous meeting held on July 18, the board unanimously voted to add two members to the board, bringing the total number of voting members to nine.
After discussion during the Aug. 1 meeting about the five applicants, board members concurred that adding three members felt appropriate.
Board chair Rick Holter noted that adding three members to the board would bring the total number of voting members to 10.
“I just think when you look at the array of things that those three bring to the table, I think it really strengthens us,” Holter said.
He explained that in the previous meeting the board talked about only adding two members, “but this field was so strong that we want to recommend three — Mario, Darren and Santos.”
McFadden explained that a committee of board members interviewed each applicant, asking them questions such as:
• What is your current role in the Pagosa Springs community?
• Why do you want to serve on the Main Street Advisory Board?
• What do you think are the most important things that the Main Street organization can accomplish in Pagosa?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What have we not asked you that we should have?
The committee was comprised of McFadden, Holter, board member Rosanna Dufour and board member Jeremy Martin.
McFadden explains in an email to The SUN that former board member Robert Melun was originally part of the committee, but resigned before the interviews.
McFadden states that Melun submitted his resignation on July 10 due to other professional commitments causing him to have limited time to participate on the board.
“Everybody was really excited about what the Main Street program has done so far,” McFadden said in regard to the five applicants.
She explained that O’Cañas is a historian and previously helped the board with its oral history project.
Dufour commented in favor of adding O’Cañas to the board , saying, “I think it’s also a valid consideration for us trying to move forward with historical preservation to be inclusive to have somebody that’s bilingual on the board.”
McFadden explained that O’Cañas recently started a bilingual newsletter to distribute to the community.
The board members also discussed why they believe Garcia will be a beneficial addition to the board, with multiple members indicating they had received positive feedback from others in regard to Garcia’s work ethic.
McFadden explained that Garcia previously worked with Aspen House and helped plan a color run and golf tournament for the organization.
Board member Warren Brown commented that he worked alongside Garcia at Aspen House, noting he did a good job at “making relationships with people.”
Holter also commented on Garcia’s attributes, saying, “He has some financial expertise and access to resources that I think could really benefit us.”
McFadden went on to mention that Gantt is the owner of a local business in the 400 block of Pagosa Street, San Juan Lifestyles.
Dufour spoke about initially only adding two board members, but that with the three being recommended would each provide value to the board.
“We really wanted to strengthen that historical preservation aspect of the board, and Santos and Mario really seemed to check those boxes, but with our current projects, Darren adds a lot to the table too, so I think it’s just really about kind of reinforcing what were doing as well as expanding on the mission of this board,” Dufour said.
McFadden commented that she was “thoroughly pleased with the applicants we had” and felt the process went “really well.”
The board will hold work sessions on Aug. 12 and Sept. 5. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 12.
clayton@pagosasun.com
