Following an executive session on Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved appointing Public Works Director Mike Torres as the interim county manager effective Wednesday, Aug. 27.
According to Torres’ resume, he has been employed with the county since 2016, serving first as the county’s fleet manager before being promoted to public works director.
Torres is a graduate of Pagosa Springs High School and attended Mesa State College, studying criminal justice, according to his resume.
Earlier on Aug. 26 during a work session, the BoCC briefly discussed the matter of filling the county manager position in the interim and as a permanent position.
Commissioner John Ranson stated that he didn’t understand the reason for looking to bring in an interim county manager potentially for only a few months.
Ranson explained that he had seen some “really good resumes” for the interim position, but, “to me, it doesn’t really make sense bringing interims in here for a job position unless they are applying for both.”
Ranson suggested that the county could “try and handle it” with its current department managers and the commissioners until a permanent county manager is brought on.
Later in the day at the special meeting, following an executive session and before voting to appoint Torres as interim county manager, Ranson commented, “I was originally against this.”
He explained he was unsure about hiring an interim, noting he did not want to lose any other manager positions within the county.
Ranson went on to express his excitement for Torres being named interim county manager, noting the BoCC will need to support Torres while he is serving in the interim position.
Commissioner Veronica Medina commented that pay had yet to be discussed, referring to Human Resources Director Mitzi Bowman, who explained that, according to county policy, if someone is moved up to an interim position their salary would increase 7.5 percent or “no less than the bottom of the range” posted for that position.
According to Bowman, the salary range for the interim county manager position was listed at $117,060.74 to $163,872.18.
Commissioner Warren Brown commented that Torres brings valuable knowledge and experience with the relationships he has developed with county staff, also expressing that it will be a collaborative effort with Torres serving in the interim position.
“I think that this will be a collective effort,” he said, explaining, “This will buy us time to truly evaluate and vet the applicants we have for the full-time county manager position.”
Medina indicated during the work session that the county has now received six applications for the permanent county manager position.
Special meeting
The decision to appoint Torres as interim county manager comes after a special BoCC meeting that was held on Thursday, Aug. 21, in which the BoCC discussed the process in which it would follow for hiring a county manager, along with designating which county departments the commissioners would oversee until someone was hired.
During that meeting, Medina commented on the process for how the county should handle applications for the county manager and interim county manager positions, suggesting each commissioner be forwarded applications and schedule a phone call with applicants quickly as part of the vetting process.
Medina expressed concerns about waiting for a certain number of applicants before beginning to review them, noting that a quality candidate could potentially pursue a different option while waiting to hear back from the county.
Brown commented that as a process, the county owes it to applicants to get black to them within a day or two.
Brown also asked if the county is advertising for the positions locally, regionally or nationally, indicating he wants to “make sure we are getting the invitation out.”
Brown commented that the BoCC could consider any internal options, as well.
Bowman explained that the interim county manager position was posted on the county’s website and Indeed, as well as in The SUN. The permanent county manager position was posted on the same platforms, and also on Gov Jobs.
Medina asked her fellow commissioners for input on the preferred process for reviewing candidates, noting that if they are all together it would need to be posted as a public meeting.
Medina then moved on to discussing designating departments each commissioner would oversee until an interim or permanent county manager was hired.
Medina explained that she had met with department heads and, “really I talked to them about this because I wanted to give them a heads up.”
She also explained the BoCC had previously done this, though an interim county manager was brought in before any department supervision was needed.
“It’s more for the department heads to have somebody they know they can ask a question to,” she added.
Medina explained that some department heads were confused about who to direct questions to following the former county manager’s resignation, and that by each commissioner taking on the supervision of different departments, they would be acting as a point of contact.
“It’s not meant for us to micromanage anybody,” she added, noting the county has “amazing” department managers who work well together.
She reiterated that the purpose is not for the commissioners to micromanage any department, “because they definitely know how to do their job, probably more so than we might.”
Brown indicated that he’d prefer to supervise the Development Services, Information Technology (IT) and Public Health departments.
“Unless anyone has a particular and strong desire to have those,” he added, noting that he also believes it’s important for all three commissioners to be available if anyone wants to, for any reason, reach out to another commissioner. “I think that’s certainly appropriate.”
Medina mentioned she informed the department managers this was going to be a discussion, adding, “We’re all here to support them.”
Ranson commented that he initially had Development Services on his list of departments to supervise.
Medina indicated that she had the airport, HR, human services and Colorado State University (CSU) Extension on her list.
Brown offered to “trade” the IT Department for the Public Works Department with Ranson, to which Ranson replied, “I’d rather have the development services,” noting he’d been involved with the department over the past six weeks.
Brown then offered to step down from development services.
Medina then commented, “So, again you know this is … one of the staff members said that when … we the commissioners are up here talking and one commissioner says one thing and if the other commissioners don’t necessarily agree, that if we don’t say something then, we agree. It’s silent approval.
“So, I’m gonna say it with the utmost respect, and I mean no disrespect by this, but I will tell you … yesterday I had a few employees from development services ask if we do this, that it be Commissioner Brown.
“Because, frankly, they feel like that might be a better fit, without saying much more.”
Medina indicated that she would leave it for Brown and Ranson to decide, mentioning, “It’s not about us making decisions for them; it’s more about us assisting them.”
Medina went on to explain that there are “other things” that Ranson has alluded to on multiple occasions, stating, “There’s some common sense things that need to happen when it comes to the planning and code enforcement.”
She encouraged the commissioners to be proactive in starting that change.
“We need to be the leaders in that,” she said, explaining the commissioners need to go through the planning and development codes and make those changes so staff knows what it is and the expectations are, “‘cause right now, to a degree, they‘re enforcing what’s been put before them.”
Brown commented that he’d be “more than happy” to take on the supervision of the Development Services Department.
“I’m OK with that,” Ranson commented.
He also addressed the “concerns” expressed by Medina.
“I couldn’t be happier with where we are right now,” Ranson stated, explaining that there are people “trying to interfere with development services” from outside the county’s organization. “I hope that’s cleared up.”
Ranson also commented on the builders’ and developers’ meeting the BoCC hosted on Aug. 20, stating that it was an encouraging meeting to him.
For more information on that meeting, see related article.
Ranson mentioned that the county can talk about affordable housing “all we want,” but “if we don’t talk about economic development and how we can create jobs, that’s backwards.
“So I’m thrilled with where we are right now,” he said.
It was ultimately decided that Ranson would supervise the IT and Finance departments; Brown would supervise CSU Extension and the Development Services and Public Health departments; and Medina would supervise the Public Works, Veterans Services, Human Services, HR and Airport departments.
Brown also commented on the builders’ and developers’ meeting, explaining that he is looking at the situation in the county’s Development Services Department as an opportunity.
“I prefer to look at it as an opportunity,” he said, explaining the county has a chance to move forward positively “and create an environment for our employees that is workable, that is supportive and that will help provide a higher level of service to the community.”
Ranson commented that he agrees with Brown’s statements, also stating, “There’s been bad stuff going on at the county.”
He indicated that some of it has been cleared up, noting this week has been a “very positive step” for the community.
Ranson expressed his excitement for finding a new county manager “and someone who believes in teamwork.”
Medina also addressed the builders’ and developers’ meeting, praising Ranson’s work for organizing the meeting.
She indicated that something that came out of that meeting was that the county has key positions it needs to hire.
During the builders’ and developers’ meeting, Interim Development Director and Planning Manager Owen O’Dell indicated he is leaving his position with the county effective Aug. 29.
During the Aug. 21 meeting, Medina explained that since O’Dell is leaving, it would make more sense for the commissioners to be involved in the hiring process for those vacant development services positions.
“Because, in the end, it’s gonna be us that are interacting with this person,” she said.
County Attorney Cathleen Giovannini explained that the commissioners “would have the ability to hire directly” if the county manager position is vacant.
Brown commented that he’d like to have a building inspector hired within a day or two, given the department’s current backlog.
Medina asked Ranson if he had any input, to which he responded, “Nope.”
Medina then asked how Ranson would like to handle the applicants for the vacant positions and the process in which the commissioners should go about hiring employees.
“No, I think you seem to be in control of this; do what you need to do,” Ranson said.
Medina responded stating that she is not in control of the situation, adding, “I’m asking for all of us to review the applicants and give your input to HR.”
Ranson commented on the builders’ and developers’ meeting again, saying, “I think we heard [on Aug. 20] very clearly what the direction we need to go.”
Medina mentioned there is still a process the county has to go through for hiring employees.
“I’m gonna listen to the people,” Ranson said.
Medina commented that it’s fine to listen to the people and that each commissioner can do that, “but we still have a process and we still have to all … participate in it, unless otherwise you don’t want to participate in it and then the decision doesn’t go the way you want it to go, then there’s no one to blame but yourself for not participating.”
More comments were exchanged between Ranson and Medina, with Ranson stating that Medina is in control of the situation and Medina stating she’s not in control and is asking for Ranson’s participation.
“I just thought we work together as a team, but apparently that’s not what you want,” Medina said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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