DECEMBER 9, 2016
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A look at unique family holiday traditions P16 A publication of
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
Links to Law enforcement officers share memories of developer spark controversy state trooper Cody Donahue at service P4 FAREWELL TO THEIR BROTHER:
Town council will decide on hotel project at next meeting BY TOM SKELLEY TSKELLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: In Douglas County, classrooms are using digital tools to stay ahead of the curve Pages 6, 7
TO YOUR HEALTH: New facility in Meridian offers alternative treatments P20
Much of the Dec. 5 Parker Town Council meeting was spent discussing potential conflicts of interest between council members and developer Mike May, who operates Mainstreet Pier LLC, the applicant for the proposed Parker Place Hotel. Councilmember Amy Holland, recently hired by one of May’s other companies, Mars Hospitality LLC, recused herself from the discussions, but several connections between May and the remaining five members were disclosed. “It’s rare to find so many members of a governing board that have so many connections to the developer,” said Luis Toro of the nonpartisan, nonprofit group Colorado Ethics Watch. According to state law, Toro said, Holland is the only councilmember who needs to recuse herself. But he said the relationships between the Parker council and May are a “unique situation” because the ties are so numerous. After 19 residents voiced their concerns during public comment, Town Attorney Jim Maloney addressed the potential conflicts. Maloney said in this case, state law and the town charter only identify a conflict of interest if a councilmember has a “material or significant financial interest” in the hotel. As such, he stated that Holland was the only council member required to recuse herself, and asked all other members to disclose their connections to May. The next step, he said, would be for the other members to vote on whether those connections constituted conflicts, a procedure also outlined in the town charter. SEE COUNCIL, P10
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303-945-2080 Laura Carlsen, RN
INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 21 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
Go to page 5 for more information from Laura Carlsen, RN ParkerChronicle.net
VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 6