Nederland – There was no true winner Tuesday night in the town’s debate over whether the board of trustees should call for the impeachment of President Bush.
Three trustees said they thought the board, short a member after recent elections, should pass a resolution to urge U.S. Rep Mark Udall to draw up articles of impeachment against the president. And three trustees said they thought the board should stick to things closer to home, like sewer and water issues.
In a debate that reflected some of the changing nature of this community, it was a tie. In this case, though, a tie meant defeat for the resolution’s supporters because it failed to pass.
“I’m completely disappointed,” said trustee Scott Franklin, who first proposed the resolution. “A little disheartened. … We had 250 signatures (supporting the resolution), and it wasn’t enough. It makes you wonder what’s going on.”
The town’s board is temporarily short a member because Laura Farris vacated her seat when she won election last week as mayor. The board has not appointed someone to fill Farris’ seat.
Franklin said he may consider re-introducing the resolution when there is a full board. But three trustees made clear Tuesday night that they don’t wish to focus on issues of national politics.
“I really feel like my role as mayor is to keep this board focused on our priority goals,” Farris said. “I feel like this resolution is a distraction from that.”
Tuesday’s meeting was the first for the new board, and its meeting space, in the town community center, was packed with about 50 people. About a dozen got up to speak in favor of the resolution. Two people expressed their disapproval of the resolution.
After the vote, the resolution’s supporters chastised the board for not seeing the big picture.
“I’m disappointed,” said supporter Aimé Fournier, “in the lack of a sense of connection of Nederland to the rest of the nation and this administration’s policies and the inevitable blowback it has upon us. They ducked it.”
Staff writer John Ingold can be reached at 720-929-0898 or jingold@denverpost.com.
