Whether discussing housing costs, business development or public spending, candidates for the Granby Board of Trustees repeatedly returned to one issue at the Oct. 19 forum: the need to rebuild public trust through greater transparency and communication.

Eight of the nine candidates running for the Granby Board of Trustees answered prepared questions at the Destination Granby Board of Trustees Candidate Forum. Destination Granby sent candidates the questions about issues facing the Town ahead of time, allowing them to prepare their answers.

All candidates were given two minutes to answer each of the four questions. They also had one minute each for an opening statement and a closing statement.

Michael Mahoney was the only candidate absent at the forum. Moderators read his written answers to questions in his absence.

The forum covered development, Granby’s local economy, property rights and zoning, affordable workforce housing, and rebuilding trust in Town Hall. Across the discussion, present candidates repeatedly identified transparency, accountability and communication as ways to address the town’s challenges.

Carin Aichele said current town employees are not always available to Granby residents. Instead, town officials should listen to residents before making decisions that residents may not fully understand, she said.

“The only way we’re going to hear what you have to say is by making ourselves available to listeners,” Aichele said.

Both Aichele and Kait Chase said public trust is built through action. Chase said although it’s unrealistic to expect trustee members to be available “100%” of the time, board members can “give the people the most of themselves they can physically give.”

Deric Jason Duerst Jones, Daniela Gosselova and Jo Pfaff each addressed the lack of communication and trust between residents and trustees during Granby’s Board of Trustee meetings. 

“Daniela, myself, and another have been there for a really long time, and we have seen exactly how the board, specifically the mayor, talks to the residents or doesn’t, and that needs to stop,” Pfaff said.

Nicole Schafer cited Fraser as a good model of transparency — the town livestreams meetings that are recorded and posted to YouTube.

“That’s the kind of transparency I think the town of Granby residents deserve, and that’s what I would encourage our staff to deliver,” Schafer said.

She added that the Granby Board of Trustees should be adequately prepared for meetings, saying that she is “disappointed” when she listens to staff ask questions that are already addressed in meeting packets.

When asked what candidates would do when conflicts of interest arise, Rachel Regenold, Chase, Gosselova and Pfaff all admitted a town as small as Granby is likely to encounter conflicts of interest.

Chase, Pfaff and Regenold said it’s important to identify those conflicts when they arise.

“There’s a plethora of potential conflicts of interest sitting right here, just with the eight of us,” Chase said. “You have to recuse yourselves. You have to acknowledge it. You have to do it legally, responsibly, ethically,” she said.

Transparency in housing, business, development and public spending

Calls for greater transparency and accountability surfaced in candidates’ responses to questions about affordable housing, economic development, local businesses and public spending.

Candidates said better communication could improve permitting, business development and housing decisions.

Aichele said that strengthening Granby’s economy and supporting local businesses would require better communication between Town Hall, business owners and residents. 

“We need an open-door policy with our Town Hall. We need much more conversation and understanding of our businesses, both small and large, and we need many more partnerships,” Aichele said.

Schafer said better communication is necessary to develop affordable housing plans. According to Schafer, conversations among organizations such as Mountain Family, Grand County Rural Health and major employers are needed to address the community’s housing needs.

“Those conversations haven’t taken place, and I feel like that’s an absolute reason why there’s a gap in understanding,” she said.

When asked about community investments and available funding, Regenold and Pfaff said the town should identify residents’ needs and make its decision-making process transparent.

“Before supporting more borrowing or higher taxes or fees, I want to see a clear need, understand the other options, and know what residents are actually willing to pay,” Regenold said, “That information should be public before ever making a decision.”

Jimmy Strickland said that, although many residents do not understand what’s happening at Granby Town Hall, the election provides an opportunity for a clean slate.

“We’ve got a new start. I see everyone up here, and I think we can create a new team and do some wonderful things over here,” Strickland said.

Sky-Hi News also asked Granby candidates about development, the economy, affordable housing, and other topics through Q&As. If you would like to read candidates’ responses to these questions, visit Sky-Hi News’s elections page.