To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Sally Misare, Town Clerk
Title
Resolution Designating Karen Goldman as a Hearing Officer for Any Recall or Initiative Hearings
Body
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Executive Summary
The Town Clerk’s office has approved the form of three recall petitions and one citizen initiative petition for circulation. Statutory provisions for both petitions authorize a protest to be filed if the petitions are determined to be sufficient by the Town Clerk. If a protest is filed, a protest hearing is required to be held.
If a protest is filed, statutes provide that the Town Clerk shall serve as the hearing officer, unless the Town Council takes action to designate an alternative person to serve in this capacity. It is the opinion of the Town Clerk and the Town Attorney that appointment of an independent hearing officer is the most prudent course of action, should a protest be filed.
The timing to set and to hold these hearings is very compressed, particularly as it relates to the recall petitions. In order to be prepared to proceed in the most expedited and efficient manner possible if a protest is filed prior to the deadline, staff is recommending that Karen Goldman, currently with the Aurora City Clerk's office, be designated as the hearing officer for any protest resulting from the pending recall or citizen initiative petitions. Ms. Goldman has extensive experience serving as a hearing officer for municipalities, including previous work for the Town of Castle Rock, and is considered an expert in the field of elections. Ms. Goldman's biography is attached.
Proposed Motion
I move to approve a Resolution Designating Karen Goldman as Hearing Officer for any Recall or Initiative Protest Hearings.
Attachments
Attachment A: Resolution
Exhibit A: CMCA Bio