HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19731017 Special Meetin~ Aspen City Council October 17~ 1973
Special meeting called by Mayor Stacy Standley. Meeting was called to order by Mayor
Standley at 5:I0 p.m. with Councilmembers Jenifer Pedersen, James Breasted, Ramona Marka-
lunas, Jack Walls, City Attorney Sandra Stuller and City Manager Russ Campbell.
Encroachment- Mr. Don Westerlind, Contractor, was present and reviewed plans with Council. Encroach-
Crandall ment would be for steps; ~nce construction City has lowered the alley.
Councilman Michael Behrendt arrived.
Councilman Walls moved to approve the encroachment conditioned upon signing an agreement
with the City holding the City harmless from any liability.
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Seconded by Councilwoman Pedersen. AlL in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Standley read letter of resignation from Russ Campbell, City Manager effective Resignation
January 15, 1974. ~.Letter as follows: Russ
Campbell
Dear Maker Standley and Members of Council:
With this letter I regretfully resign as City Manager, effective January 15,
1974.
We on the City Staff, who. carry out your will, require timely and realistic
policy decisions. Without policy decisions.~ Without policy guidelines, we
are stymied and frustrated. We vitally need clear thinking, unemotional and
decisive leadership. We require a clear understanding of Council's basic
roles as policy setters, and of the staff's role as implementors, free of
Council interference.
Perhaps unwittingly, Council has attempted to undermine the' legitimate fun-
ctions of the city staff and the Mayor. I do not, in the long run, foresee
improvement in these problems without a new Council composition.
I take this opportunity to thank a ~ajority of you for your~ support.
Russ Campbell
City Manager
Mr. Campbell made the following additional comments. In order to have good government it
must have depth. Visualize the role O~ Council asa board of directors-which makes large
aggregate deciaioms. City Manager's role as a general manager to carry out policy dec-
isions. Extremely concerned at the time of taking this po~tion that there was not a
clear understanding of the different roles; there should=.not be any encroachment into
the other'one's ~ole..Mr; Campbetl st;ated he did not.have a'ctear understanding of. the
motives of some of the Council this last summer. Deeply concerned about this community
spending time and money on planning and so little time on implementation, you're trying
to build too much sophistication and not enough gut decisions being mane. A City Manager
takes a job with a vote of confidence~ Was quite confident when hired and talked with
previous Council that therelwould be. coalition that would ram home decisions. No manager
will accept a position without total support. ~Over this surmner have become more dis-
couraged. Mayor was chewed out by Council for going over the bounds of his authority.
Do not foresee improvement in the long run', do not see coalition coming,, feel there are
problems on the horizon and I can't win in a situation like this where there exists
Council's inability to get it all together.
Councilman Behrendt moved 2o accept Manager Russ Campbell's resignation. Seconded by
Councilman Breasted. Ail in favor, motion carried.
Council'woman Pedersen. movedto' adjourn at 5:30 P.M., seconded by Councilman Walls. All
in favor, meeting adjourned.
h~rrazne Graves, C~ty Clerk