City attendees say conference is important

VAIL — Montrose city staff and council members attending a three-day conference in Vail at tax-payers expense said they were budget-conscious both before and during the event.

On Tuesday, three city staff, the city manager and four of the five council members traveled, mostly separately, to Vail for the 87th annual Colorado Municipal League Conference.

About 600 city officials from across Colorado attend, many with their families. Throughout the three days, seminars, such as "Natural Disasters: Preparation and Response," were held.

"For me, it's the difference between high school and college ... it's intense and there is training on a lot of topics," council member Erica Lewis Kennedy said.

Kennedy accompanied council member Gail Marvel on the trip, carpooling to save gas, she said. Mayor Jose Abeyta, council member Kathy Ellis, City Manager Mary Watt, city attorney Russ Duree and part-time legal employee John Capa, also attended.

The CML conference is a chance for the legal department to fulfill their required continuing legal credits, Watt said.

With lodging and registration fees, the conference cost the city $3,826, Watt said. Other expenses such as mileage, food and tips won't be available until later. However, Kennedy said her expenses she is turning in is around $88. Ellis said her meals cost about $104. Abeyta said he only ate out once and it cost $30.

On Saturday morning, Montrose attendees returned calls from the Daily Press to validate the importance of the conference. According to 9 News Denver interview with Glendale City Council member LuVerne Davenport, Glendale brought six people to the conference so they could "rotate through the panels and no one would have to go to all of them."

Davenport is quoted, "We goof off," when asked what they did when not in seminars. Davenport did not know she was talking to a reporter or being recorded.

Kennedy and Ellis couldn't comment if that was happening because they were attending seminars.

"I think it is a very valid question, but trust me, it was not a play day," Kennedy said.

Council discussed the conference several times during open city council meeting prior to the event.

"We discussed cost savings," Ellis said.

Council decided that everyone would come home on Friday, so not to book another night's room. They also determined that no money would cover spouses that attended. Ellis' husband, county commissioner Gary Ellis, attended seminars as well for a charge of $50. The city did not pick up his tab.

Abeyta claims it was well worth the money, as it opened up opportunities to meet other officials, network and see how other communities operate.

"We were all aware what our council budget is down to ... and spent accordingly," he said.

Recently, the city implemented two employee furlough days. In January, the budget had to be revised, the first time for the current council members. Vacant positions have not been filled and energy-saving methods have also been put in place to cut down on expenses during hard economic times.