David Bruce Cummings (right) is sworn in by City Judge Jay Cranmer Tuesday night. (Joshua Carney / Craig Press)
A little under a month after Craig’s city council appointed him to fill a vacant seat, David Bruce Cummings was sworn in during Tuesday night’s meeting by City Judge Jay Cranmer.
Cummings took the oath of office in front of fellow councilors, staff, family, friends and community members inside the council chambers shortly after the start of the first meeting of the year.
The Craig resident filled the vacant seat of former councilor Tony Bohrer, who coincidentally was sworn into office as a county commissioner Tuesday morning at the Moffat County Courthouse.
Craig city councilors publicly appointed David Bruce Cummings on Friday night in a special council meeting just three days after being informed they violated Colorado Open Meetings Law by holding a secret ballot vote at the Dec. 11 meeting.
In Friday’s meeting, Councilman Steve Mazzuca made the motion to nominate Cummings to fill the vacant seat of Tony Bohrer. Councilor Bohrer seconded the motion.
When voting on the motion of Cummings as the nominee, Councilor Chris Nichols voted “no,” while Councilors Andrea Camp, Mazzuca, Hess and Bohrer voted to approve the motion along with Mayor Jarrod Ogden.
Council then voted on officially appointing Cummings. Votes stayed the same for the appointment. However, in a meeting with a member of the Craig Press on Wednesday, Mayor Ogden stated that the secret ballot vote to nominate was 4-2 in favor of Cummings. On Friday, the vote read 5-1. It’s unknown which councilor changed their vote from the Dec. 11 meeting, which is why votes sho
December 19, 2020
Craig Press: Craig city councilors publicly appointed David Bruce Cummings on Friday night in a special council meeting just three days after being informed they violated Colorado Open Meetings Law by holding a secret ballot vote at the Dec. 11 meeting.
In Friday’s meeting, Councilman Steve Mazzuca made the motion to nominate Cummings to fill the vacant seat of Tony Bohrer. Councilor Bohrer seconded the motion.
When voting on the motion of Cummings as the nominee, Councilor Chris Nichols voted “no,” while Councilors Andrea Camp, Mazzuca, Hess and Bohrer voted to approve the motion along with Mayor Jarrod Ogden.
UPDATE, 8:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 18: Craig city council will hold a special council meeting on Friday at 5:30 p.m., in which they will publicly vote to appoint a new city councilor to fill the vacant seat of Tony Bohrer.
What appeared to be a simple decision to hold a secret ballot vote to appoint a new city councilor at the Dec. 11 meeting instead turned into a Colorado Open Meetings Law violation, the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition says.
According to CFOIC Executive Director Jeffery Roberts, Colorado Open Meetings Law prohibits local and state public bodies from using secret ballots to adopt any policy, position or regulation or to take formal action.
Tylor & The Train Robbers warm up the crowd Saturday during the 20th annual Whittle the Wood Rendezvous in June 2019
City of Craig Parks and Recreation Department Director Ryan Dennison should remember Tuesday night’s city council meeting for a long time, considering it was the first time councilors pushed a department to ask for more funding.
Dennison approached councilors Tuesday night asking for the approval of of a $20,000 contract for Rhema Music & Clothing and instead received “no more than” $85,000 to spend on entertainment through Rhema Music’s James Williams, who will serve as sort of pseudo master of ceremonies at the 2021 Whittle the Wood event.