Creede puts new city manager to work

New Creede City Manager Louis Fineberg


CREEDE—The Creede Town Board didn’t waste any time getting value from new City Manager Louis Fineberg during their meeting on Dec. 4. Fineberg gave suggestions and fielded questions. He initiated follow-up meetings to discuss budget and policy issues, and he offered to sweep sidewalks himself once the town buys a new ATV for the task.
Most recently, Fineberg was the city manager for Silverton, Colo. He started as a city planner in Pennsylvania and New Jersey before moving to Colorado to be planning director for Trinidad. After almost five years in Trinidad, he spent another two-plus years as a city planner in Taos, N.M. He left Silverton in August and took the position in Creede in mid-November.
“Creede and Silverton have a lot of similarities,” Fineberg said. “The population fluctuates from winter to summer. But in many respects, Creede is in a much better place than Silverton.” Fineberg described a healthy water system in Creede, although he also said he’ll work with the town’s engineer on sewer compliance issues.
During his presentation, City Engineer Rick Goncalves said he met two grant proposal deadlines in the past couple weeks, and preliminary comments from grant committees indicate no deal-breakers in Creede’s proposals. This allows Goncalves to proceed with engineering plans and requesting bids for completing the work.
The board followed Goncalves by passing two motions. They agreed to close Main Street around 3 p.m. on Dec. 7 for volunteer Christmas decoration before the parade. They also agreed to allow a documentary company to film a local ice skater on Dec. 9 from noon to midnight.
When the board transitioned to new business, they discussed revising the 2018 budget and financial planning for 2019. But Fineberg suggested conducting a separate work session to clarify decisions before the final budget meeting on Dec. 18. The board agreed.
City Clerk and Treasurer Krisen Buchanan described the fragile state of the computer she uses and backs up regularly, and Fineberg suggested meeting to create procurement policies that empower staff to make lower-budget purchases without board approval.
After 16 years as city manager, Clyde Dooley gave his final report and is working closely with Fineberg to make the transition. Dooley received a request to combine two lots in a minor subdivision, and he received another application for developing three or four small units for year-round residents to rent at a reasonable rate.
Fineberg feels the housing crunch himself. He is currently living about 10 miles out of town because he couldn’t find a local long-term option. “The biggest issue Creede faces is affordable housing. If I’m having trouble,” Fineberg said, “what about the waitress who comes in the summer or the seasonal worker who’s passing through? For them it’s a bigger problem.”
Fineberg reiterated how he likes to create policies for streamlined decision-making. “But I have no policy agenda. I’m new here,” Fineberg said. “I need to learn from the people who live here what their big issues are so I can prioritize. I want to do what the community wants me to do.”


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