BY LINDA BENTLEY | jUNE 8, 2011
Carefree swears in new town council
‘It’s time to bury the hatchet behind town hall’
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Town Clerk Betsy Wise first swore in Mayor David Schwan (center) and then council in unison, from left: Michael Farrar, Glen Miller, Melissa Price, Marty Saltzman and Jim Van Allen. Arthur Gimson, who appeared telephonically, was sworn it at town hall on June 1. Photo by Linda Bentley
CAREFREE – After taking their oaths of office, the newly seated Carefree Town Council, upon the recommendation of Mayor David Schwan, and with no other nominations, unanimously affirmed Melissa Price as vice mayor.
Although Schwan stated Councilman Glenn Miller was an excellent vice mayor, he said Price “has the ability to bring people together,” adding, “She can disagree without being disagreeable.”
Schwan announced there would be a special visioning session workshop at 3 p.m. on June 23, to which the public is invited.
At 8:30 a.m. on July 1, U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle will be at town hall to speak to the public.
Schwan also said the regular meeting of council on July 5 will be moved to July 12, so as not to interfere with the July 4 weekend.
Council voted unanimously to do away with the town’s subdivision committee.
Town Administrator Gary Neiss said it was a redundant process since subdivisions first go to staff, then the planning commission and then to council with plenty of opportunity for public input.
Councilman Mike Farrar asked Neiss what the original intent was.
Neiss said it was to allow for citizen participation. However, he said it was rare for anyone to show up at those meetings. Instead they showed up at the planning commission and council meetings.
He also said no other jurisdictions have subdivision committees.
The next agenda item was the first reading of an ordinance to change the permit fee for “estate sales” from $100 to $25 and increase the number allowed from one to two per year.
Farrar asked what the penalty was if someone held an estate sale without obtaining a permit.
Neiss said it was $750. However, he said the town has not imposed any fines and instead prefers to educate citizens on the requirement.
Schwan said he would like to hear from the public before the second reading.
During public comment, Lyn Hitchon told council that many of the people who don’t want garage sales live in communities, such as hers, where they are precluded by the CC&Rs.
Council voted unanimously to adopt the tentative budget, amended to include paying off the fire truck in addition to paying off the Sundial building.
Councilman Jim Van Allen told council its legal ads, according to the Arizona Republic’s circulation department, go to 66 percent of Carefree’s residences.
He said Sonoran News goes to 100 percent of the town’s residents and is about 35 percent less expensive than the Arizona Republic.
Van Allen stated, “It’s time to bury the hatchet behind town hall.”
After adjournment, council was sworn in as the Carefree Water Company board and unanimously approved its budget.
Councilman Arthur Gimson stated he is a Carefree resident and a Cave Creek water customer. He said the rates in Carefree for the average user are about 12 percent less than what they would pay in Cave Creek.
According to Carefree Water Company manager Stan Francom, there were 64 customers that are considered high water users, which he said is a fairly large number.
Francom said they contact each of those customers by phone and try to educate them about things they can do to lower their water consumption.
