Worthy of a severance
Dear Editor:
Congratulations to Hilary Fletcher on a great career with Pitkin County and best of luck as she moves on to the private sector. All of Pitkin County owes Hilary a debt of gratitude for her decades of dedicated service.
It would be a shame if her long and successful career was blemished by a media-facilitated dust-up over a long-existing severance provision in her contract. It’s hard enough to find good managers willing to take on responsibility for a government that is the equivalent of an $80 million per-year corporation – only with a far more complex mission and a far more involved board of directors, not to mention a cadre of other strong-willed and influential independently elected officials. The financial compensation does not match the responsibility.
A little severance at the end of a very successful run is hardly a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Hilary’s door was always open – to anyone – and her interest was always in helping her board accomplish what is best for those they were elected to serve. She will be missed, but hey, the private sector needs effective, ethical managers too.
Paul Menter
Carbondale
Aspen City Council puts breaks on Old Powerhouse Preservation Project
With many lingering questions still surrounding the fate of Aspen’s historic Old Powerhouse, City Council decided during Monday’s work session to hold off on providing staff direction on moving the preservation project forward until more information can be presented.
