Arapahoe County Commissioner Frank Weddig stepped down as chairman of the county board Tuesday, punishing himself for what he called an unintentional breach of the county’s negotiating position.
Weddig will stay on as a commissioner. His chairmanship was set to expire at the end of the month, when Commissioner Susan Beckman would begin a rotation as chairwoman. Beckman will begin early.
Weddig said Wednesday he got caught talking informally about negotiations between the county and the city of Centennial over a public services contract with Sherry Patten, the spokeswoman for the city of Centennial. Weddig said he and Patten are long-time acquaintances.
He informally suggested the city make a counter-offer on the length of a contract.
“I wasn’t trying to negotiate,” he said. “I didn’t think I was.”
Later the same day, a county negotiating team was meeting to hammer out a new contract. Weddig was not on that committee, but his comments came up as an indication the county might give on its position, Weddig said.
The ethics committee found that Weddig made a mistake, but that it did no harm to the negotiations. It recommended no punishment.
“it’s in the best interest of the county if we avoid the politics of discussing what my punishment should be for my supposed ethical lapse,” he said.
