Delta County Independent: At the May 23 board meeting Paonia trustees voted to consider sanctions against trustee Bill Brunner after he released a series of e-mails to the media and the town clerk on April 25. “The release was not an agenda item,” and was not previously noticed to the board, town administrator or town attorney, said Mayor Charles Stewart.

The board voted on May 9 to direct town attorney Bo Nerlin to review the emails and to determine if any violations of open meetings law or the town’s newly adopted Standards of Conduct occurred. Following a May 23 executive session called to receive legal advice from Nerlin “specific to Trustee Brunner’s e-mail release,” trustee David Bradford motioned, and trustee Chelsea Bookout seconded, to direct Nerlin to prepare a memorandum concerning information provided to the board by Nerlin in the executive session. The memo will be released to the public, but its contents were not discussed at the meeting. The motion passed on a 3-2 vote, with trustees Watson and Bill Bear voting “nay” and trustees Karen Budinger, Bookout and Bradford voting “aye.” Brunner recused himself from the vote.

Bradford also moved, and Bookout seconded, for the board to consider possible sanctions against Brunner at the June 13 board meeting, based on the contents of the yet-to-be-released memo from Nerlin. The motion passed, 4-0, with Brunner recusing himself and Watson refusing to vote. According to the standards of conduct, actions can range from remedial or educational training on the subject of the violation, to public warning, public censure, a request for the trustee’s resignation, or removal from office.

The board has already voted to schedule a training session with Nerlin.

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