Volume 31 • Number 39 • August 22, 2013
What’s Inside Page 11
Central City Opera’s ‘Show Boat’ couples with Riverboat Royale
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G’day mates! Littleton welcomes friends from Aussie sister city
Page 18
Join the Pilates Evolution
Pages 26-27
Cabela’s has distinctive grand opening in Lone Tree
Don’t Miss:
• Arapahoe County OKs pipeline Page 7 rail ridership continues to • Light increase in south metro area Page 10
Welcome Week ends • Western with traditional parades
Page 19
Index
Page 8..................................Opinion Page 8............................ Classifieds Page 10................. Service Directory Pages 11-18........................Fleurish Pages 21-25..........................Legals
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By Peter Jones It is about 9,000 miles from Littleton, U.S.A. to Bega, Australia, but the two cities never seem that far apart when a delegation from one visits the other. “I have to say it’s a thrill, and it’s really like coming home,” Bega’s Barb Westmacott said last week in Bega Park, which is named for Littleton’s longtime sister city. Westmacott also had a few words for her fellow Australians. “For those who are here for the first time, you’ll [feel the same way] by the end of this – probably this day, but certainly by the end of the visit,” she said. Westmacott, who is on her third official visit to Littleton, was a leader among a delegation of 25 Bega residents whose 10-day visit to Littleton concludes this weekend. The busy trip was designed to run parallel to Littleton’s 85th annual Western Welcome Week celebrations, during which the Bega delegation participated in last weekend’s Grand Parade. The visit kicked off Aug. 15 with a welcome from Littleton city officials and civic leaders who unveiled the newly renamed Bega Street, a block of Rio Grande Street that runs through Bega Park between Main Street and Alamo Avenue.
Historic Downtown Littleton has a new intersection. A block of Rio Grande Street that runs through Bega Park between Main Street and Alamo Avenue has been renamed in honor of Littleton’s Australian sister city. Photo by Peter Jones The rechristening has followed the renaming of several sites in Bega to honor the larger Littleton community – including Littleton
Gardens and a park for Columbine High School after the 1999 massacre. City and county officials and the
Australian delegation were joined by several hundred city residents
Sunshine or a total eclipse? By Peter Jones Rumors have swirled about the controversial firing of onetime Littleton City Attorney Suzanne Staiert since 2011 when she was paid $143,000 as part of an agreement that forestalled any future legal claims against the city. By the time Staiert cleared out her desk, it had come to light that she had recently filed a sexual-harassment claim against a municipal judge – a fact that City Council members insisted had nothing to do with her termination. All that is known, officially, is that on Sept. 20, 2011, Staiert was abruptly fired by a council vote of 5-2 – with little fanfare or official comment – shortly after the council had discussed the matter during a 90-minute executive session not open to the public. Such mysteries and ensuing rumors of municipal government – as well as privileged city contract negotiations and private personnel matters – would be a thing of the past in Littleton government if a group of citizen activists gets its way. Pending approval of the re-
quired petition signatures for Lit- do what they say they are going to tleton ballot initiatives, city voters do.” will decide in November whether Under Brzeczek’s initiative, the City Council’s ability to hold the council’s executive sessions private executive sessions should would be limited to two areas – be drastically curtailed. If Little- matters for which federal or state ton were to severely limit its ex- law requires confidentiality, and ecutive sessions, the city would be for attorney-client discussion of following the legal actions general lead of already filed in Boulder, which a court of law. completely Any final leprohibits such gal settlements meetings. would be deChief procided by council ponent and vote in a public longtime Litmeeting. tleton resident Although Carol Brzeczek Mayor Debbie insists that it is says - Littleton resident Brinkman time for conshe is a strong Carol Brzeczek sistency in how supporter of the council’s open governexecutive sessions are conducted. ment, she believes the ballot ini“How the Open Meetings Law tiative is ill conceived. is followed varies depending on “The privilege of executive the council that’s sitting,” Brzec- session is not lost on this council,” zek said. “I don’t know what goes she said. “We honor the trust the on behind closed doors, but I’ve community has placed in us to had a few former councilmembers make the best decisions we can for tell me they talk about individual the community. We don’t gossip citizens. I don’t trust the council to in executive sessions – absolutely
I don’t trust the council to do what they say they are going to do.
Continued on page 4
Littleton group seeks to strictly limit executive sessions
not. We have been very diligent about open meetings where it does not compromise city decisions to give more information.” According to Colorado’s Open Meetings Law, a local government’s executive sessions – or its meetings held outside of public view – must meet at least one of several requirements. In general, discussions must cover the following: • Purchase or sale of real estate • Details of security arrangements or investigations • Strategy for contract negotiations • Personnel matters specific to a given employee or employees • Legal advice from the city attorney • Matters that must be kept confidential per state or federal law If Brzeczek’s initiative is successful, all but the last two would be completely cut from Littleton’s executive-session criteria, and even the exemption for private legal advice would be Continued on page 6