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Hayden extends job offer to county manager finalist

Council interviewed 5 town manager finalists for position

Jack Weinstein

If you go

What: Hayden Town Council meeting

When: Staff and council reports at 7 p.m. today; regular session at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Hayden Town Hall, 178 W. Jefferson Ave.

Steamboat Springs — Hayden has extended an offer to its town manager favorite. — Hayden has extended an offer to its town manager favorite.

— Hayden has extended an offer to its town manager favorite.

Interim Town Manager Lance Stewart said Wednesday that the Hayden Town Council this past weekend interviewed five finalists. Stewart said council members previously had whittled down the finalists from a list of 11 that a citizen committee identified from the pool of 39 applicants. He previously interviewed all 11 by telephone.

Stewart wouldn’t provide the name of the person who was offered the position, but he gave names of the five finalists.



They are: Jeff Devere, an associate dean with Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely; Dennis Stark, the former county manager of Lyon County, Nev.; Matt Mendisco, an associate with RS Wells LLC, a consulting firm in Denver; David Torgler, former city manager of Leavenworth, Wash.; and Rodney Proffitt, director of development for Archuleta County.

Stewart said he has been in contact with the favorite, per the Town Council’s request, and could confirm a hire next week.



“I got the feeling he’s very excited about the notification,” Stewart said. “… Presently he’s traveling, and (said) he needs to get home and discuss it with his wife. His initial response was enthusiastically positive.”

Stewart said the next couple of weeks would allow him to negotiate with the favorite if that person accepts the job. Stewart said he thought the Town Council would prefer to have the new manager in place by Thanksgiving, and no later than Christmas.

“I think that will be easily accomplished,” he said.

Stewart was scheduled to give an update about the town manager search during an executive session at tonight’s Town Council meeting, but he said it was unnecessary because he didn’t have new information to share with council members.

Staff and council member reports are scheduled for 7 p.m., followed by the regular session at 7:30 p.m., at Hayden Town Hall.

Also at tonight’s Town Council meeting, the Citizens for Referendum 3B will give a presentation about the Hayden School District’s asking voters to consider a property tax increase. The increase would generate $321,473 annually for the district.

School officials have said the additional revenue would allow the district to keep class sizes small, preserve faculty and staff compensation levels and maintain existing facilities and equipment. The district cut about $420,000 from this year’s budget and expects future cuts, the officials said.

In other action, the Town Council will consider appointing Angela Robinson as an alternate on the Hayden Planning Commission. Alternates can sit in any time all five members of the Planning Commission aren’t present, Town Clerk Susan Irvine said. Robinson would be the second alternate, filling the commission.

Stewart said he would recommend that a 2011 proposed budget review and discussion, also scheduled for tonight, be postponed until the Nov. 4 Town Council meeting, after the election. He said there’s too much uncertainty with seven vying for four seats and a new mayor coming in.

— To reach Jack Weinstein, call 871-4203 or e-mail jweinstein@steamboatpilot.com


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