By Kevin Stearns in Wellington — Jun 16, 2025

Wellington Board of Trustees 6/10/25

by Nanci Wendland

Main Topics

The first quarter 2025 (Q12025) Treasury report was presented and in line with the budget.

The final plat for the Wellington Business Center, Amendment No. 1, and the Development Agreement were unanimously approved.

The board voted against opening the Rate Advisory Group meetings to the public. This is a group of private citizens using data to study water and sewer rates to then advise the board. The vote was 5-2 against opening the group meetings to the public.

Executive Session

The meeting began with an executive session to consider potential property purchases within the Town of Wellington for municipal purposes and to receive legal advice.

Finance Director Redavid presented the first quarter 2025 (Q12025) Treasury report. These are some of the highlights:

Due to the completion of required state audits, property tax revenue of $2,348,421 has been received from the state for tax year 2022. The 2023 financial audit was completed in spring. Wellington is waiting for final state approval and subsequent property tax revenue disbursement.
Water and Sewer revenue funds are lower due to lower winter usage.
Sales tax revenue from the first quarter 2025 increased in comparison with Q1 of 2023 and 2024.
The new Equal Payment Program for Water Volume Usage Bills will go live to all residents in June. Details will be on the town website. (As of June 13, the program has not been posted). To be eligible for the program:
1. Residential accounts only
2. Owner occupied residences
3. Water/sewer connection must have been on or before March 31, 2024.

All items on the Consent Agenda were unanimously approved. Details are in the packet.

May 27, 2025, meeting minutes
Resolution No. 23-2025: Authorizes the temporary closure of portions of State Hwy 1/Cleveland Avenue, First Street through Sixth Street, Harrison Avenue, and Wilson Avenue during the Wellington Annual July 4 celebration on July 4.
Resolution No. 24-2025: Renews the annual Senior Resource Center contract.
1. The contract is effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and supports costs for fuel, maintenance, insurance, and registration for the Senior passenger van. The renewal increased by $1,046.64 due to the cost of rising insurance premiums, as well as a 5% increase for repair and maintenance.

Action Items

Planning Director Bird opened a public hearing for Ordinance No. 11-2025 to consider approval of a final plat for the Wellington Business Center, Amendment No. 1. There were no questions or objections from the public or the board.

The board unanimously approved Ordinance No. 11-2025, the final plat for the Wellington Business Center, Amendment No. 1 and the Development Agreement.

Town Administrator Garcia opened a discussion with the board regarding public access to the Rate Advisory Group meetings. Background:

This advisory group is made up of Wellington residents to brainstorm ideas on how to handle the increase in water rates.
They held their first roundtable discussion in summer of 2021.
The group has no authority to make decisions. All suggestions must go to the board for consideration and/or approval.
Members were told their conversations would be private.
They have access to the current and historical water/sewer data.
One idea from this group is a new Equal Payment Program due to roll out sometime in June. Residents will be able to spread high water bills equally throughout the year.

A resident recently asked the board to open these meetings to the public and provide online access via Zoom. Trustees Tietz and Weigand support opening the meetings to the public. Tietz said it is a chance for the public to ask questions and learn. Weigand said the public should know how the sausage is made.

Trustee Moyer is against opening the meetings. She said these meetings are not for education. She wants the members to be able to speak openly and privately.

Trustee Daily is also against opening the meetings. Daily said she is concerned that the group's discussion could be taken out of context and exploited online by any resident without a full understanding of the complex problem or full picture. Daily also said the town has given residents multiple opportunities at town halls to ask questions and hear explanations of the water rates.

The mayor and remaining trustees said they could go either way. Mayor Chaussee said when people are in an intimate setting, they’re more open and honest. Inviting the public could open the group to backlash from other community members who don’t know the full story. Chaussee also said that while transparency is important, it’s up to the board during a public board meeting to be open and transparent with the community. He said the board should be explaining any decision the board makes based on recommendations from this group.

The board voted 5-2 in favor of keeping the Rate Advisory Group meetings closed to the public. Trustees Tietz and Weigand voted in favor of open meetings.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Question to Consider:

Will the citizen group continue to convene about the cost of utilities indefinitely?

Next Meeting:

The June 24 meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting will be on July 8, 2025, 6:30 p.m. online Zoom, or in-person at The Leeper Center, 3800 Wilson Avenue, Wellington, CO

Members’ Present:

Mayor Calar Chaussee, Mayor Pro Tem Brian Mason and Trustees: Rebekka Daily, David Wiegand, Lowrey Moyer, Ed Cannon and Shirrell Tietz.

Others Present to Note:

Town Attorney Dan Sapienza; Town Administrator Patti Garcia; Town Clerk Hannah Hill; Planning Director Cody Bird; Planner III Brittany Lenoir; Deputy Director of Public Works Meagan Smith; Finance Director/Treasurer Nic Redavid.

Documents:

From the Wellington Board of Trustees website: “The Mayor and Trustees are elected at large for terms of 4 years; the Town opted out of term limits. The mayor presides at all meetings of the Board of Trustees and has the same voting powers as any member of said board. The public is always welcome to attend these meetings.”

*Citizen Observers further the commitment of the League of Women Voters to its principle of Citizens Right to Know, however, we are not acting as journalists. Omissions and errors are possible. It is assumed that users of this information are responsible for their own fact-checking. This could include contacting a government clerk, conversing with an elected official or staff, and/or asking us to speak to the Observer who attended.