Montrose - Daily Press

Going to seminars and having someone else pay for it is as American as that room service club sandwich. It’s traditional, too — it has been going on since 1789. (It’s in the new book, "Plain, Honest Men," by Richard Beeman; the Founding Fathers convened in Philadelphia, but for most part, the people back home picked up the tab.)

City officials joined 600 of their peers at the Colorado Municipal League meeting, its 87th annual last week. Its executive director defended it as a "quality conference." The noisy part: It was in Vail. The noisier part: the cost, $5,359.

County officials, too, attended a similar seminar hosted by Colorado Counties Inc. It was also in Vail, earlier in June. Their cost: $3,445.

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We don't necessarily believe our city and county officials were down by the pool drinking pina coladas all day long, but when you mix "public officials" and "Vail resort" and include the "taxpayers' tab" in a news story, it's as unpalatable with the constituents back home like those anchovies on a Caesar salad.

Call it bad timing (the recession) or a bad draw (Vail is a member of the CML and the sites rotate). Still, you have to question the expense as so many are battening down the hatches.

It’s likely our officials came away with some useful contacts, or interesting points of study that’s applicable here in Montrose, where they serve the public. We don't disagree with the benefits of attending (a good investment, education-wise), but we do question the importance of sending so many. Particularly when considering how the city earlier this year put its employees on furloughs to meet a leaner budget.

Size matters. The city of Montrose sent seven to last week's conference. To put it in perspective, Denver sent five. Montrose County also sent seven officials to its conference two weeks ago. It's overkill. Couldn’t a few — at least for this year — handle the job of many? Couldn't fewer representatives report back to the larger group? Many seminars also follow up by posting the information online as an additional resource.

There is value in attending, but given the timing, as in times are tough, ouch.

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The Breakdown

Colorado Municipal League Conference

Location: Vail, Vail Marriott Resort & Spa

Who attended: (7) Mayor Jose Abeyta; City Council Members Kathy Ellis, Erica Lewis Kennedy and Gail Marvel; City Manager Mary Watt, City Attorney Russ Duree and part-time legal employee John Kappa. City council member Ed Ulibarri stayed home.

Expense Summary

Registration — $950

Lodging — $1,935

Meals/Tips — $296

Mileage — $703

Parking — $10

City Council Total (4): $3,894

Registration — $38

Lodging — $0

Meals/Tips — $0

Mileage — $0

Parking — $0

City Manager Total (1): $38

Registration — $418

Lodging — $954

Meals/Tips — $55

Mileage — $0

Parking — $0

City Attorney Total (2): $1,427

Total cost: $5,359

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Colorado Counties Inc. Conference

Location: Vail, Vail Cascade

Who attended: (7) County Commissioners David White, Ron Henderson and Gary Ellis; Public Affairs Director Ana Mostacerro; County Manager Joe Kerby; Health and Human Services Director Peg Mewes; and Environmental Health Manager Richard Thompson. Note: Mewes and Thompson joined the conference for just one day. Thompson did not attend the full conference or stay in the hotel.

Fees: Registration was $335 per person, including meals. Lodging was $100 per person, per day.

Total cost: $3,445

Sources: The city of Montrose and Montrose County

 

Comments

Be Real wrote on Jun 30, 2009 12:36 PM:

" Conference calls can work well for in progress types of meetings where you've established relationships and have already started addressing issues with these people...For a conference of this nature in person participation is critical for maximizing the benefits of the event. This $5300 event can ultimately help the city save hundreds of thousands if not more. Stop looking for a controversy where there isn't one! "




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An Old Curmudgeon wrote on Jun 26, 2009 11:34 AM:

" In this electonic age and financially stressed agencies is it not possbile to use teleconferencing for the City Council and County Commissioners instead of trekking to Vail at taxpayer;s expense? No cocktail parties, no swimming pools but fiscal responsibiliy. "




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concerned res wrote on Jun 25, 2009 5:19 PM:

" Maybe somebody out there can answer my question. Of all these Commissioners, managers and mayors, who would have the authority to determine who should go to this seminar? Is it possible to hold one person accountable? "




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Designated Driver wrote on Jun 24, 2009 3:01 PM:

" City Vehicles would have been great during the day, but would have given the wrong impression at the pubs and nightclubs in Vail at night. Its better they used there personal vehicles so not to give the clubbin montrose image. DD "




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Crash wrote on Jun 24, 2009 1:17 PM:

" I think it IS a story: The writer wasn't saying it was all bad, but considering the current state of affairs, perhaps it could've been trimmed down. My gripe is the $703 paid for mileage. The City has several travel vehicles that could've been used, saving that mileage cost. (Though the cost imposed by our own City Shop would likely be much more, or is that just for the Police Department?) "




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Taxed payer wrote on Jun 24, 2009 12:08 PM:

" I don't condon lavish spending by public officials, but $100 a night is pretty cheap, our own Holiday Inn is $149.00 a night, and thats the ARP rate. If the writer of this story every got passed the Delta County line they would know that resorts offer hugh discounts in the off season for this kind of event. This is a non-story. "




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