By Shari Phiel
Berthoud Recorder

It has been little more than a year since the Berthoud Economic Resource Team was formed in July 2008. Concomitant to reaching this milestone, the team reviewed the Berthoud Board of Trustees’ recent discussion about the organization and direction of the advisory team at their Monday, Aug. 10 meeting.

Among the questions posed by BERT to the trustees was what the roles and responsibilities of the group are. “Their basic response to that was what it says in the ordinance,” said BERT chair Becky Justice-Hemmann, “which is we are an advisory board to the trustees, and that’s about it.”

Ordinance No 1096, which provided for the creation of BERT, states BERT “shall have an advisory role for matters regarding Berthoud Economic Development activities operating within the boundaries of the Town of Berthoud and the surrounding areas.”

The BERT chair also noted the trustees stated the group’s structure would be dictated by the ordinance as well. “So there really isn’t any structure, we’ve pretty much created our own structure,” added Justice-Hemmann.

BERT requested the town re-hire previous economic development consultant Stephanie Salazar. Interim Town Administrator Gary Suiter, asked the BERT members to provide input and feedback on the scope of work for the position along with the list of deliverables created by the team.

“When I go into contract negotiations that’s what I want,” said Suiter. “I want scope of work, I want deliverables, I want dates, I want a map. All that stuff needs to be in there so I can take it back to the board.”

The interim administrator also noted that Salazar would report directly to him. “I want to hold her accountable for her scope of work, for her contract and her deliverables, on your behalf. And to give her access to the board of trustees.”

Suiter, along with Justice-Hemmann, vice-chair Scott Banzhaf and BERT member Jim Birdsall, met with Salazar on Wednesday, Aug. 12 to work out the details for Salazar’s return. Suiter will next bring the group’s recommendation back to the trustees at the next regular meeting.

2010 Budget
Also on tap for the committee is a look at the remaining budget for 2009, along with creating a budget for 2010. At the Aug. 4 trustees’ meeting, Mayor Tom Patterson noted there was $37,000 remaining in the budget for economic development activities, of which approximately $21,000 is likely to go to the consultant hired to assist BERT.

To work through the budget, a subcommittee consisting of Justice-Hemmann, Vice-Chair Scott Banzhaf and BERT member Greg Ludlow will be meeting prior to the next monthly meeting to provide information to the trustees.

Six of the voting team members’ terms will be ending on Aug. 31, some will be returning for another term while some will not. However, no mention was made of who would be filling the soon-to-be empty positions. 

The next monthly team meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 14 in the Berthoud Town Hall boardroom. Meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. For more information about the Town’s economic development activities, visit the Web site at www.Berthoud.org/economic.php.