Herald
Englewood 5/9/13
Englewood
May 10, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
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Recreational marijuana industry banned Change in ballot wording delays final action on ordinance By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com The Englewood City Council approved an ordinance on second reading prohibiting all aspects of the recreational marijuana industry in the city. However, they elected to amend the wording of a proposed advisory ballot issue
on the subject, which means final approval will be delayed at least two weeks. The vote on the ordinance establishing the ban was 5-2, with Mayor Pro Tem Jim Woodward and Councilmember Joe Jefferson voting against it. During the discussion of the issue, Jefferson said he would vote no because he feels the action ignores the fact that Englewood residents overwhelmingly voted to approve Amendment 64, legalizing the recreational marijuana industry. Woodward said he also voted no for the same reason. Councilmember Rick Gillit said he would vote yes on the ordinance because, while it prevents the industry from coming
into Englewood, it in no way restricts individuals from growing or using recreational marijuana. The newly passed ordinance first defines recreational marijuana cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities and retail stores, and then prohibited establishing any of these facilities or stores in Englewood. In a separate action, the city council considered an ordinance placing an advisory question on the November ballot regarding the ban of all recreational marijuana facilities and stores. Councilmember Jill Wilson said she felt the way the proposed ballot question was
written didn’t clearly state that the ban places no restriction on the personal use or residents’ ability to grow their own recreational marijuana as allowed by Amendment 64. Following a lengthy discussion, the council agreed to amend the ballot issue wording, to point out the proposal would not have an impact on personal rights regarding use and growing recreational marijuana, existing medical marijuana businesses, personal caregivers or patients. Because the proposed ordinance was significantly amended, it will have to be considered for a final reading. That action is tentatively scheduled to take place at the May 20 council meeting.
Election overhaul advances
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Republicans incensed over proposed changes By By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com A major Democrat-sponsored overhaul to how elections are conducted in Colorado passed the Senate on May 2, much to the chagrin of incensed Republicans who uniformly object to the effort. House Bill 1303 — the “Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act” — would make substantial changes to the state’s voting and registration process, primarily by allowing residents the Report ability to register to vote all the way up through Election Day. Also, every registered voter would receive a ballot in the mail. That includes socalled “inactive voters” — those who currently do not receive mail ballots because they did not vote in the previous election. The bill essentially does away with polling precincts as we know them, and instead sets up “polling centers” where any eligible voter can show up to cast a ballot. Democrats believe the bill modernizes elections and allows for greater involvement in the voting process. “At the end of the day, all we will find is that more people who are registered to vote will do so,” said Senate Majority Leader Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora. Democrats are touting this as a bipartisan piece of legislation, because the vast majority of county clerks in the state support the measure, including those who are Republican. But Republicans senators were apoplectic over the bill, which they dubbed the “Voter Fraud Act.” They argue that allowing
Capitol
Ashley Corente, a student at Cherrelyn Elementary School in Englewood, poses with a pair of lizards at the annual school carnival May 4. Along with carnival games, cotton candy and a dunk tank, kids and parents were treated to a reptile petting zoo hosted by Canyon Critters, a reptile rescue based in Golden. Photo by Deborah Grigsby
Names added to law enforcement memorial Recognition given to five who died on duty in 2012 By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews. com Five names were added to the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial on the morning of May 3. The ceremony was attended by nearly 300 family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers of the five officers who all died in the line of duty in 2012. Those honored included Englewood Police Detective
Jeremy Bitner, Denver Police Officer Celina Hollis, Colorado Springs Police Officer Matthew Tyner, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Captain Leide William DeFusco, and Lakewood Police Agent James Jeffery Davies. Family members of the fallen officers were given seats at the front of the ceremony. Several could be seen placing flowers at the base of the memorial, after the ceremony. An additional 10 names were added, based on historic research. The historic inclusions had death dates ranging from 1873 to 1966. In total, 250 names are now written on the memorial. James H. Davis, Executive
POSTAL ADDRESS
Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety conducted the ceremony, held by the memorial, located Bitner in front of the Colorado State Patrol headquarters in Golden. Davis said that it was hard for him to speak about the sacrifices made by those who died in the line of duty, defending the citizens of Colorado. “But this memorial is our duty, to serve and protect their memory,” Davis said.Davis added that the sacrifices of the surviving family members should also be remembered. The captains of the Denver, Colorado Springs, Lakewood and Englewood Police Departments, as well as Pueblo’s Sheriff all placed wreaths at the base of the memorial, in honor of the officers who died under their command. The ceremony included the singing of the national anthem, Lakewood Police Department
Honor Guard provided a 21-gun salute, and at the end a flock of white doves was released. Bitner died May 28, 2012, when he got out of his vehicle during a traffic stop and was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Bitner, a Centennial resident, left behind a wife and two young children. Conner Donohue, 21, has pleaded guilty to four felony charges and a misdemeanor charge in connection with the incident that cost Bitner his life and injured the motorist that Bitner had pulled over. Donohue pleaded guilty on Feb. 22 to vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident causing death, and driving under the influence. He is scheduled for sentencing May 31. The collision that killed Bitner took place on Broadway, just north of the Littleton border. Donohue allegedly sped away from the scene but was stopped about three miles south by Littleton police.
Election continues on Page 6
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