YOUR AD HERE »

Authority appointment tabled

County votes to appoint Ed McArthur, but city balks

Dana Strongin

In a divided vote, the Steam–boat Springs City Council has tabled a decision about whether to appoint the recommended candidate to the Yampa Valley Housing Authority’s board of directors.

At the urging of the Com–munity Alliance of the Yampa Valley, the council voted 4-3 to delay action on the appointment. Ed McArthur was recommended to replace Bud Rogers on the board.

The City Council and Routt County commissioners make joint appointments to the YVHA board. Commissioners voted earlier Tuesday to appoint McArthur.



Two people — McArthur and Steve Lewis — applied for the opening. Council members Loui Antonucci, Paul Strong and council President Ken Brenner met with the county commissioners March 28 to interview Lewis and McArthur. The group voted 5-1 — with Brenner as the dissenting vote — to recommend McArthur, who they agreed would fill the need for someone with experience with construction.

“Ed has considerable experience in construction site and infrastructure development and would like to assist YVHA in the planning and construction of affordable housing projects,” county Commissioner Nancy Stahoviak wrote in a memo recommending McArthur.



But at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the council balked at the recommendation. Anto–nucci, Strong and Councilman Kevin Kaminski opposed the delay.

Community Alliance of the Yampa Valley board member Rich Levy said Tuesday that more candidates need to be considered for the YVHA board opening.

“The Community Alliance believes the YVHA is an important body,” Levy said in a statement he issued at the council meeting. “The process is also important. We believe that two advertisements does not constitute sufficient outreach in order to attract all possible interested parties.”

John Spezia, a housing authority board member who also serves on the alliance board, said he supported Levy’s stance.

Notice of the board opening was published three times: once on the city of Steamboat Springs’ page in the Steamboat Today, another time in the Steamboat Today and once in the Steamboat Pilot & Today.

Antonucci said the position was well-advertised.

Kaminski said that he thinks the alliance staff and board members simply are unhappy that McArthur was the recommended selection. Councilman Paul Strong agreed.

“The Community Alliance does not have a position against Mr. McArthur,” Levy said. “We hope his contributions will again be considered once appropriate community notice has been achieved.”

Council member Steve Ivancie said McArthur was well qualified but that the council should advertise for the position again.

Brenner said he didn’t think having new applicants would change anything.

“I don’t think the recommendation is going to change for the group,” Brenner said.

The council decided Tuesday that Ivancie and council member Susan Dellinger should meet with county commissioners to discuss the appointment process.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.