Jessica Davis, the new Nucla town clerk-manager, told the Forum Monday that a new deputy clerk was hired. Emma Terrell replaces Davis, who was deputy clerk before. Terrell has ties to the West End and said she’s excited to start her job. Nov. 3 was her first day.
Davis said having one person in the office was challenging, and she’s very excited to welcome Terrell. She added they’re walking through the basics of day-to-day town operations and “ready to tackle” the work.
The town is close to hiring for the position of animal control and code enforcement officer. Davis said it’s one job with two titles. She said the board plans to make a decision quickly, and the job could be filled as early as next week. She said three people were interviewed last week, and they’re all local.
The Nucla Town Board of Trustees is also tasked with appointing two new trustees. Vacancies exist after Scott Barnes and David Johnson left their posts on the board. The seats are unpaid and volunteer but come with big responsibilities in governing the town. Davis said she thought the board would make a decision at one meeting for both seats and hopefully at the Nov. 12 meeting. She said the idea is to get the new board members trained by representatives of the state’s Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) as soon as possible. DOLA representatives will teach the greater board about duties, responsibilities and legal procedures. Davis will also participate in the training.
The Forum asked about the candidates who’d applied for the public service positions on the board. Davis deferred to Mayor Paula Brown for that. Brown said the candidates were Wayne Ament, Jesse Sutherland and James Pierce.
Davis said there will be just one town board meeting for November, not two as is standard. That’s because of the Thanksgiving holiday.
She said so much transition is happening in Nucla Town Hall, and it’s a big learning curve for those involved. She’s confident the staff and board will get through it. Former town clerk-manger Melissa Lampshire has planned hours to advise when needed, especially now during budget season. Davis said Lampshire will also be needed in election season in the spring, when four or five town board seats are up for reelection.
She said all should be informed by now of the rate increases for water and sewer. In other town news, Davis said there are rules and regulations people should be aware of. She said she reminds all that property owners are responsible for cleaning out their own culverts.
“Knowlege is power,” she said.
And, as it’s November and people tend to want to make fires, she reminds them that bonfires are not permitted in town limits. She said people should know, before they’re sent warning letters through the mail.
Additionally, January will be time for pet licenses, and the community should plan for that. Business licenses are due in March.
Davis also wants to get people directed toward the town’s website and rely on it, rather than social media. She also aims to get people signed up for electronic billing statements, rather than paper statements through the mail.
She said she’s got a lot of responsibility but she’s happy.
“It’s a lot to manage, and I'm taking one thing at a time,” she said. “I love Nucla. It’s my home.”
