As things currently stand, trustee wages increase as you head upvalley - even without Snowmass and Aspen's health plans included. The new Carbondale rates would top Basalt, but maybe not for long. Sopris Sun graphic

The Carbondale Board of Trustees proposed an increased stipend for its future members at the end of an otherwise routine meeting on Feb. 27.
Since the last increase in 2015, trustees have received $900 a month and the mayor $1,500. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk crunched the numbers and suggested an increase to $1,200 and $2,000, respectively. “I think it’s pretty easy to defend based on the inflation calculation,” he said.
While the resulting figures are a little higher than the cost of living growth, and would leapfrog Basalt’s current rates, Trustee Marty Silverstein thought it would even out long before the next increase.
“No one does this job for the money,” he said. “I could make more working at Wendy’s and I’d also get fed, and a uniform, and get less grief. The amount of time people spend doing this job, I think a lot of people in the public don’t realize — whether it’s reading the packet, going to the other meetings, dealing with public comments, investigating things.”
The rest of the board agreed and encouraged staff to draw up documents at Bohmfalk’s proposed rates for approval at a future meeting. As it is paid for by existing taxes, the change does not require voter approval barring an initiative or referendum. It would not, however, apply until after the next trustee election and would only apply to new members — the incumbents would keep the old rate for the duration of their terms.
In other action, Doug Goldsmith, the district sales manager for waste hauling contractor Mountain Waste, expressed optimism in an annual update.
“The community’s buy-in has made this a successful program,” he said.
Overflowing trash containers and recycling contamination appear to be down, at least anecdotally. Tracking suggests a reduction in trash overall, which Goldsmith attributed to an influx of part-time homeowners during the pandemic that have since returned to their primary properties. He took the opportunity to remind residents about the spring clean up day in April and encourage everyone to install the company’s app, which keeps you up to date on pickup day changes and what can and can’t be recycled.
Parks and Recreation Director Eric Brendlinger’s Integrated Weed Management Plan was similarly straightforward, in stark contrast with last year. At the time, he was considering biting the bullet and using chemical herbicides in some particularly hard-to-manage areas, but public feedback was overwhelmingly opposed. So he went back to the drawing board — earning him praise from the trustees.
“Thanks for being open to changing your mind,” Erica Sparhawk told him. “It’s a big deal.”
This year’s plan calls for no chemical treatments, relying instead on a number of alternatives including manual weed elimination. It’s an approach made possible by temp laborers and volunteers to tackle weeds before they go to seed. The Town is also looking elsewhere in the animal kingdom for help, with some experimental plots slated for treatment by Goat Green LLC, which already does work along the Rio Grande Trail.
“They’re not cheap, but I’m convinced that they should be part of our toolbox,” Brendlinger said.
Although Brendlinger couldn’t put an exact figure on the financial ups and downs of the chemical-free approach, Bohmfalk seemed fairly sure that it’s both more expensive and worth it.
“We’re consciously spending more time and money every year to do this right,” he said.
The plan was approved unanimously.
So were a trio of grant applications: one to the Federal Mineral Lease District to help offset the cost of the pool, one for state Public Building Electrification funds toward Town Hall and the new aquatics center and a Department of Local Affairs local planning grant for online permitting and digitization. They’re each in different stages of the process, but the required match money is available for all three.
Before concluding with an executive session on potential property acquisition, trustees proposed a continuance for the proposed food truck court annexation at Snowmass and Main, which will be revisited at the March 26 meeting.