After some controversy and back-and-forth discussion among public speakers, the Cortez City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to reappoint Rebecca Levy and Tom Butler to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Levy and Butler have served as commissioners since 2016, and submitted letters of interest to be appointed once more to the post. Levy’s appointment in particular faced some scrutiny by the community because of her participation in a controversial Facebook thread a few months ago, but she told The Journal that she looks forward to moving forward and “getting back to work on the key issues.”
“I’m truly honored to be reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission by this council,” Levy said. “I take their trust in my appointment very seriously, and will do the best of my ability to ensure that I represent myself as an appointee with respect, honor, fairness, accuracy and inclusiveness.”
She highlighted her work in professional planning as evidence of her qualifications for the position.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is a five-person board that usually meets on the first Tuesday of the month. Commissioners are appointed by the City Council for three-year terms.
“Traditionally, the city of Cortez does not advertise reappointments to city boards,” City Clerk Linda Smith told The Journal. “If a current member of a city board would choose to no longer continue on the board at the end of their term or to no longer serve prior to their term ending, the city of Cortez would advertise the open position.”
Councilors can reappoint board members if they choose, but if not they would advertise the open position, Smith said. Right now, there are openings on the Library Advisory Board; Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Advisory Board; and Community Art Board.
Both Butler and Levy submitted letters of interest in remaining on the commission, and city staff recommended their reappointment.
“We have received numerous emails both pro and con for the appointment of Rebecca Levy,” City Manager John Dougherty told the council Tuesday night. “Those have been given to the council. But staff’s recommendation is that both Tom Butler and Rebecca Levy be reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission.”
Levy, who serves as executive director of the Cortez Cultural Center, has faced backlash alongside fellow commissioner Lance McDaniel in recent months, after a Facebook post related to veterans upset some community members, who found it disrespectful. McDaniel said his post was intended to be humorous. Levy’s comments appeared in the Facebook thread as well.
She apologized for her involvement in the thread during a January City Council meeting, saying McDaniel’s post was an inside joke that was misconstrued. She also expressed frustration and fear at the nature of the backlash, pointing to commenters who seemed to recommend of hanging and “tar and feathering.” At one point during the meeting, Levy cursed, which also sparked some criticism.
Several community members spoke up on Tuesday for and against the reappointments of Butler and Levy.
Opponents raised questions about Levy’s decorum, and some also felt that the two commissioners’ involvement in the recently rejected land use code was problematic. Others said vacancies should be more widely advertised.
“I think that if the city is looking for reappointing or appointments, they should put it out to the citizens of Cortez,” said Allen Maez, who had expressed concerns about the Facebook thread and Levy’s cursing at previous meetings. He added that he felt the reappointments should be the job of the new council, set for election in April.
Mindy Nelsen, a frequent public speaker at council meetings, asked City Council to let Levy “practice leadership skills” before reappointing her to the position.
“It is the obligation of a responsible supervisor and manager to wisely guide an employee towards growth and personal success,” she said. “In this case, the obligation may be with the City Council and City Manager.”
Defending Levy’s reappointment, Holly Tatnall, president of the Cortez Cultural Center board of directors, noted that it was often hard to find people to serve on board and commissions, and Levy brought a good deal of knowledge to the position.
“I have personal knowledge of her ability to decipher and explain government rules and regulations,” Tatnall said. “Not only that, she likes doing it. That’s a rare breed, because that stuff’s pretty unintelligible most of the time.”
She also addressed Levy’s use of an expletive before, saying that it was uttered out of “fear,” in relation to the violent comments on Facebook.
A few City Council candidates also voiced their thoughts. Bill Banks read aloud a letter from Dave Waters opposing Levy’s appointment and Rachel Medina and David Rainey defending both individuals’ service. Medina also stated that she would like to see more people interested in serving on the commission themselves.
Butler himself spoke up, although he said that he hadn’t expected needing to defend himself at the meeting. He emphasized that serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission was a tough, thankless job sought by few, and said he and Levy had served together for a few years now.
“We have butted heads on more than one occasion,” Butler said. “We don’t see eye to eye on a number of issues. But at least she’s sitting up there trying to make them.”
He critiqued those who criticized city elected officials without running for office themselves, and lamented the difficulties of having a civil discussion.
“I’ve never seen this country so divided by hate,” Butler said.
After the public hearing, Councilor Sue Betts spoke, saying that she had known Butler for many years to be a respectful man and official, and that she had had a “good heart-to-heart” with Levy recently about the Facebook and cursing events. Levy had apologized, Betts said.
“As far as I’m concerned, everybody deserves a second chance, and in my mind, she deserves a second chance,” Betts said.
The vote was unanimous at 5-0, with Councilor Gary Noyes absent.
ealvero@the-journal.com