Harsh words from Council to colleague

Councilors, mayor accuse Baker of misleading residents

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

City Councilor Bruce Baker endured some harsh criticism from his colleagues April 17, saying he has been misleading residents regarding water rates and the newly approved water treatment plant.

“You have embarked on a plan to, in some cases, abuse some of our senior population and scare them. I’ve gotten hysterical phone calls from people yelling at me about raising their water rates,” said City Councilor Rich Seymour at the April 17 study session.

Seymour said that Baker is taking advantage of community members who “may not fully understand” and sending them “into a tailspin, that forces them to make a phone call that they normally would not do.”

“You are lying to (residents.) You are costing me business time and business hours to talk to chat with these people,” Seymour said.

Since the decision to lower water rates and approve a new water treatment plant, Baker has taken advantage of the Council Comments portion of meetings to explain his distrust in city sta and disapproval of council decisions. ose speeches have sometimes been over ten min- in ation. ey also approved a water treatment plant on Jan. 23, one that cost $100 million less than originally planned.

“It’s not a never-ending argument and we have made a decision as a group,” Seymour said.

Mayor Nancy McNally said that Baker has been asking residents to call council members regarding water issues, as well as reaching out to “newspapers.”

On March 1, Baker sent Colorado Community Media an email explaining his belief that city sta hasn’t provided him or the council with accurate information.

“I think the information that City Council has been given is misleading. I think certain sta mem- that sta wants,” he wrote.

McNally said for next year, she won’t go into protocol discussions unless consequences are put in place for councilors who do not follow the rules. She said there have been “wasted breath” on items due to certain councilors not following protocol.

“We’ve had direction that we have given sta . What are you trying to undo?” said McNally.

“I know you’re trying to stack the deck next week for our city council meeting, terri c, but I don’t get it. Four people, at least, said we’re moving and you’re trying to take us back. It’s frustrating,” McNally said.

Mayor Pro Tem David DeMott said that he has spoken with residents who have been misguided on the topic and there is a misperception of what the council is doing due to Baker.

“I’ve made (water issues) everything I breathe for five years, and we’ve done a substantial amount of work that has benefited the residents,” he said.

DeMott said that the council has made a commitment to come back to residents in the future to continue to work on a longer-term solution. He said he approves of the past decision on water rates and thinks it is workable.

“It’s taking everything I have to show restraint this evening,” said Seymour.

Baker said that he is concerned that Westminster’s water rates are higher than the surrounding cities.

“We have to buy the same pipes, the same valves, pay the same labor costs, buy the same chemicals,” he said.

He said that staff pulled the numbers set “out of the sky.”

“I don’t think we’ve truly explored (other options). That’s what I’ve told the people I’m calling,” he said.

DeMott noted at the study session on Feb. 2022 that the council discussed five options for balancing reduced rates and nancial impacts to the city. e road to this decision resulted in each councilor not receiving everything they wanted, he said.

McNally said that the council has already made a decision and it’s time to move on.