Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #1 |
What a shock...after the Medical Marijuana Committee met privately, a sudden PUBLIC meeting was announced. The atmosphere was hostile immediately after the Mayor threw out a participant for smiling. Yes, for smiling.
A 120 day MM moratorium is in place.
If you could have seen the Mayor of Pagosa Springs behave so angrily for no reason other than an a facial expression, we should realize our town's leader must be replaced in the next election.
Pagosa Springs remains a town in the past run |
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Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #2 |
...as I was saying,
Pagosa Springs remains a town in the past run by a man living in the past and unable to objectively see the future. |
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sensetalk2000
Registered: 11/10/08
Posts: 109
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| #3 |
Why are you surprised by the actions of this mayor? Were you giving him a lot of credibility before the MM issue?
Do you really expect any leadership in Pagosa to make informed and intelligent decisions based on the will of the people?
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Boomerkid
Registered: 12/19/08
Posts: 22
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| #4 |
Incredible that the town still has the same mayor that it's had for over 30 years. Things will never change for the better here without a progressive mayor.
I wonder if the Pagosa Lakes population were able to vote in town elections if this would be the case? Instead the direction of the town and its leaders is dictated by the few downtown Pagosa residents that cast their votes when an election is held. I have a strong feeling things would be much different if a broader base of the population were able to vote in mayoral elections here.
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CitizenPagosa
Registered: 10/12/09
Posts: 8
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| #5 |
Just yesterday, our town couldn't recognize a State Constitutional Amendment that has existed for almost a decade. As local business men and women are trying to boost our economy, the town council, once again, takes the, Durango can serve our needs, approach. "Patients can drive to Durango!" Although they know that Medical Cannabis is also being grown, distributed, and used in Archuleta County and the Town of Pagosa Springs, but have decided to "wait and see". These businesses would pay rent to landlords, employ people, and pay local sales taxes. These businesses are also operating free from any Federal Funding.
Business people, from other alternative healing centers, reported to the council that they pay over $5000 per month to the local municipalities in Grand Junction, Durango, and Loveland. Of course, Pagosa's tax base wouldn't be as large as these cities, but income is income. So, we have a legal business under a Constitutional Amendment by the voters of Colorado, pending leases - (one is 3 years), and several new jobs on the horizon, but the town council decided to wait and see if The State of Colorado does anything. The big news is that The State of Colorado already did something a decade ago; the voters approved the use of Medical Marijuana by patients, and the Primary Caregiver system.
First and foremost, the town has done a great injustice to "Patient Rights".
They recently approved the renewal of 3 liquor licenses, but want to keep medical "Patients" in the shadows. Secondly, the town has let down it's citizens. They are complaining about tax revenues being down, and people leaving the community, yet they can't seem to accept new tax revenue, businesses occupying vacant commercial spaces, and job creation. Our Mayor, Mr. Aragon, also told a participant in yesterday's meeting that he could not smile! The man asked, "you're telling me I can't be happy and smile?" The Mayor replied, "You're smirking!" The man said, "I'm just smiling. Are you telling me I can't smile in this meeting?" The Mayor replied, "Yes!"
This all happened in the first '1 minute' of the public portion of the meeting.
Incredible! The Mayor then said, "Let's open it up for discussion." When audience members raised their hands to speak, the Mayor confronted them with, "You have to follow our procedures!" Instead of the Mayor choosing to inform them that there would be a "Public Comment" portion of the meeting,
he just treated them poorly. It was Ms. Pierce that had to bring the clarity to that situation. She informed these folks, in a very professional manner, that they would have an opportunity to speak. Later a man spoke out of turn, and the Mayor just blew up! His vein popped out, his face was red, spit was coming out of his mouth, he banged both fists on the table, twice, and then had the Police Chief remove the man.
This is how professional our Mayor is. He can't even control his emotions in a public forum. And yes, if all members of Pagosa Springs were allowed to vote in town elections, Mr. Aragon would certainly be gone. If all the people that live in Pagosa Springs, but not the City Limits, did their shopping outside the City Limits, the town would be in a world of hurt!
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Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #6 |
Some of this public forum's threads are becoming entangled. I finally see why. What do they all have in common?
Pagosa's government is apparent throughout our forum's threads. The Town Council and the Mayor, sometimes suddenly and unannounced, have a negative impact on so people's lives, sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly.
I see the common denominator in Pagosa's schizophrenic, immature nature and lack of direction. It begins at our "top" and trickles down. |
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Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #7 |
I have asked this question on another thread; please, someone correct me or provide information: Isn't it policy to PUBLISH the date and time of a Town Council meeting which is not a private meeting, not a committee meeting, but a public meeting?
How is the public supposed to learn about the meeting that is not announced ahead of time? I missed an important Town Council meeting that I would have liked to attend because I only knew about the private committee meeting taking place on Thursday, before the sudden public meeting was announced.
This puzzles me. Is Pagosa Springs governed differently than Durango, where I'm accustomed to procedure? |
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Ded
Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 39
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| #8 |
Sherrill: I don't have a copy of the law concerning public meetings, but I am reasonably certain that the date, time and location of any public meetings of the town council(board) are covered by Colorado's "sunshine laws" and must be posted in a public, common area visible to the public at large. Furthermore, it is my understanding that said meetings are open to the public at all times unless "Executive Session" is declared at which time all non-board members are required to clear the room while the subject is discussed. Once the matter under discussion is done, the public is allowed back in the room to observe and or ask to address the council.
Executive session cannot be used to conduct regular business of the council or to hide actions that may involve a conflict or illegal action taken by the council. As for the gentleman who was removed, unless he was distracting the board from its business, he may very well have had his rights violated by the Mayor by his removal. That board is elected to represent the public (you) that reside in and are eligible to vote within the City of Pagosa Springs and possibly any areas annexed by the town. A rule of thumb, if you pay property taxes and reside in Pagosa, you are considered a citizen. You may take notes, record but not photograph the board unless you work for a news agency(?), but you supposedly cannot deprive board members or citizens in the course of conducting business or querying the board regarding a position taken, not taken or under discussion.
To be summarily chastised by the Mayor for smiling is, IMO, a violation of that citizen's rights by an elected official. Removing him for the same reason is indefensible and possibly grounds for legal action.
As for a "private meeting" of the board, that should also be covered by the "sunshine laws" and is totally illegal as public policy is not set without the public's right to see how business is conducted before the board. My suggestion is find a lawyer versed in state and local law, see if you have a case, and if you do, file it, ask for a change of venue and seek damages or removal of the offending official. This may take county approval. If yes, then move your dispensary out of the town entirely. The county would like the spare change i'm certain providing there is no cost to them.
One caveat: The federal government does not recognize state laws regarding cannabis regardless of need. Sales is still a federal crime as is possession with intent to sell or distribute, something I'm certain the town's lawyer is aware of. I thought the lifting of the moratorium was a positive sign but its obvious that business as usual prevails. Could it be that someone did not get the remuneration they expected, not saying that the Mayor and TB are not sterling examples of public servants doing their sworn duties. However, as I have said before, follow the money, it usually leads to the rat(s). Ded.
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Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #9 |
Thanks for sharing your knowledge about the Sunshine Law. This forum has a wealth of information available from informed, educated, sometimes professional readers and posters. I Googled the Sunshine Law, but the forum members always have "first hand" knowledge that my online research only touches on.
Yes, I believe the smiling man who raised his hand to be recognized and subsequently was removed from the Town meeting should file suit if he learns his rights were violated. Whether he'll do so, I don't know because I'm not personally or professionally involved with him.
Oh, I believe the Thread in which I explain that I am not the dispensary owner or operator, only a MM card holder, was deleted by accident. I said, "I WISH I was opening a dispensary," but I'm not! |
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Ded
Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 39
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| #10 |
Sherril: FYI.here is a link to an article on MSN re. federal policy changes on prosecution and enforcement of providers of MM. Not a revocation, but a loosening of enforcement on the federal side.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33376482/ns/health/
Good luck.... Ded.
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Sherrill
Registered: 12/11/08
Posts: 98
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| #11 |
Fantastic news. Soon people will soon recognize Medical Marijuana as real medicine, not a recreational drug! |
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