June 23, 2016
SCREEN THE SUN
VOLUM E 127 | IS S U E 48 | 75¢
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LittletonIndependent.net
A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Firing puts focus on growing unrest Texts show discussions on city manager’s future go back at least to May
By Kyle Harding kharding@coloradocommunitymedia.com When at-large Littleton City Councilmember Doug Clark introduced a motion to fire Michael Penny at a special council meeting, he said it was due to incompetence and a lack of
transparency on the city manager’s part. But others believe it is part of a concerted effort to stop progress in the city, actions that may have included communications that violated openmeetings law. “We have had, over the last six months, a multi-pronged approach to dismantle this city,” District 1 Councilmember Bill Hopping said at the June 14 meeting, citing an attempt to abolish the city’s urban-renewal authority as well as the voting
down at the May 3 council meeting of a $200,000 streetscape study that would have provided recommendations for parking and safety improvements. Council voted 4-2 to fire Penny, effective immePenny diately, ending his nearly five-year tenure with the city. A text message exchange
between Mayor Bruce Beckman; his wife, state House District 38 candidate and former Arapahoe County Commissioner Susan Beckman; and District 2 Councilmember Jerry Valdes obtained by the Littleton Independent shows there apparently was discussion of firing Penny as far back as May 21. In the exchange, the mayor appears to have told his wife that at-large Councilmember Peggy
PENNY’S PAYOUT Littleton will pay Michael Penny $72,981 in the wake of his firing, city spokeswoman Kelli Narde said, including a $22,150 severance, $26,220 in longevity pay, $23,242 in vacation pay and $1,367 in regular pay. His base salary for the current fiscal year was $172,661, a raise from the $150,000 he made when he was hired.
Penny continues on Page 14
Apartment fire ruled accidental Blaze started near dishwasher, city says Staff report An April fire that led to the displacement of more than 130 seniors at a Littleton apartment building was accidental, Littleton Fire Rescue has determined. The fire started in the area of the dishwasher in the kitchen of a fourth-floor unit of Southview Place Towers, 5820 S. Windermere St., according to a June Fire continues on Page 5
Colorado Air National Guard Lt. Col. Mitchell Neff lands an F-16, nicknamed “The Fighting Falcon,” at Aviation Career Day at Centennial Airport on June 14. “It’s like a race car,” he said of the fighter aircraft. Photo by Alex DeWind
Event gives wings to dreams About 150 people attend career day at Centennial Airport By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunitymedia.com Mike Straka has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and calls himself a “trained scientist.” But his career path changed
when he became chair of the Colorado Aviation Business Association about five years ago. “When you’re flying,” said Straka, who’s had his pilot’s license for 10 years, “you’re in control of the plane. You can
IN THE NAVY
go wherever you want.” Straka, of Denver, coordinated the first Aviation Career Day at Centennial Airport on June 14 to spark public interest in the flight industry. The Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) had its first iteration
Arapahoe grad Alex Jackson discusses her decision to play soccer for the United States Naval Academy. PAGE 3
Wings continues on Page 5
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LITTLETON INDEPENDENT (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 315-780) OFFICE: 2550 S. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Littleton, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 2550 S. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT LITTLETON, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Tue. 11 a.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.