CHAFFEE ADMINISTRATOR ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT

CHAFFEE -- The era of Chaffee's first city administrator is coming to an end.

Administrator Reece Brown submitted his resignation Monday night at the Chaffee City Council's regular meeting, prompting Mayor Ron Moyers to form a committee to set up requirements to advertise for a new administrator. The resignation takes effect April 3.

"It's time to retire," Brown, 66, said in his office after Monday's meeting. "I need to enjoy life for a while."

Brown, a former superintendent of the Chaffee public schools, was appointed the city's administrator in August 1984 after giving up his seat on the city board. He worked on a part-time basis.

In a letter to the council and Moyers, Brown said he appreciated working with them and the cooperation they had given him. Council members voted to accept Brown's resignation, with only Ward 4 Councilman Tom Cunningham voting against it.

"Can't stay another year?" Moyers asked. "No," Brown responded.

"Well, we appreciate all the hard work you put in," the mayor added.

Moyers appointed councilmen Danny Finley, Ron Eskew and Cunningham to the committee.

The council approved a motion by Cunningham for the city to examine deeds to see if it could allow the sale of beer in Frisco Park for Chaffee's German Days. German Days is held in August, City Clerk Diane Eftink has said. The event is put on by the Chaffee Chamber of Commerce.

City law now prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages on city property, including parks. The city was asked at its last meeting to consider a variance in the law.

Council members Monday expressed a willingness to offer a temporary exception to the law for church groups, schools, charitable clubs, and fraternal groups for festivals, picnics and other like events. Ward 1 Councilman Jerry Wolsey told the council that German Days is "a major contributor to the community" and that he thought it should allow the special permit.

Some city council members, as well as Moyers, said they only wanted to allow the exception in Frisco Park. Wolsey said he would support that.

City Attorney David Summers said the organizations and church groups could seek to have a maximum seven-day festival license for the sale of malt beverages that would cover events such as the Fourth of July and German Days. Summers said they would be required to appear before the council each year and specify the seven-day window that would be needed.

In the past, German Days was held on a private lot next to the old Veterans of Foreign Wars building on Yoakum, said Wolsey. But Wolsey said he understands the lot is the site of the future First Midwest Bank of Chaffee.

Also Monday:

The council accepted a bid on an accident insurance policy for the city's police reserve. The bid from Hal B. Rice was $446 per year for five men, Moyers said.

Brown told the council that representatives of Burlington Northern promised the company this week would take care of the trash on old Rockview Road and clean out the ditch behind the Thorngate warehouse.

A representative of the American Legion Auxiliary said the organization would like to replace trees that have been cut down in the city. Moyers referred the auxiliary to Ward 2 Councilman Ed Gauthier, the council's liaison to the city park board.

Councilman Brad Bader did not attend Monday's meeting.