From The Pueblo Chieftain: Tempers flared as City Councilman Chris Nicoll faced other council members today at City Hall over his allegations that council broke state law by discussing in closed-door meetings how to take portions of the city’s half-cent tax revenue and use it for street repairs and other city services.
Council President Sandy Daff and Councilman Chris Kaufman both said they believed — based on assurances from City Attorney Dan Kogovsek — that those discussions were properly held in executive session.
That was much less certain as Kogovsek then argued with Nicoll about his accusations.
Kaufman, for his part, acknowledged that he wants to propose new uses for the half-cent tax, which city voters have dedicated to recruiting new jobs. But it produces $7 million a year and the account currently has $40 million in it.
Saying council intended to bring the plan before the public at a later date, Kaufman called it the Great Pueblo Payback project. A draft ballot initiative released by Nicoll this week asks voters to earmark $20 million of the $40 million for city improvements.
Kaufman said that money could be used for essential improvements to the city.
“I have a clear conscience,” he told the audience at Friday’s press conference but agreed council had discussed that “blueprint” in closed door meetings.
Nicoll insisted those discussions shouldn’t have been in executive session under the state’s Open Meetings Law.
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