This week the Buena Vista Board of Trustees and the public got a chance to hear from the three final candidates for the open Town Administrator position in Buena Vista; Brian Berger, Jarred Biggs, and Dannette Garcia. Each of the three candidates had ten minutes to introduce themselves before a fifteen-minute question-and-answer session.
The full meeting is available to view on YouTube.
Current Poncha Springs Town Administrator Brian Berger introduces himself to the BV Board of Trustees in his bid for the position in Buena Vista. Photo by Carly Winchell
Brian Berger
Brian Berger was the first to speak. Berger is currently the Town Administrator for the Town of Poncha Springs. Raised in Kansas, though his wife was born in Salida, Berger explained that he liked the idea of being born and raised in the same spot and wishes to do the same for his kids. He assured the Board he would be in it for the long haul with an eighteen-year minimum given that he has a three-week-old at home.
Berger has the benefit of already being familiar with the Chaffee county area, while the other two candidates would be moving into the area for the role.
“This is an extremely attractive position to me. Long term I want to stay in Chaffee County, this provides the best of both worlds to be able to have experiences and new challenges while being able to stay in Chaffee County and contribute to the success of this year,” said Berger.
Mayor Libby Faye expressed concern over the lawsuit between Poncha Springs and Salida. “Could you talk a little bit about the role you played in that and why did it end up as a lawsuit rather than a mediation,” asked Faye.
Berger responded that they did try to do mediation and his position primarily was to organize and facilitate meetings between the organizations. “My board was willing to give a little, and they did, but unfortunately it was not reciprocated on the other side,” said Berger.
He emphasized that the issue was more with the utility enterprise than a battle between two towns. “My position was really to make sure they were armed with all the information, fully aware of what the impacts were and what the next step was all the way down the line,” said Berger. “At the end of the day, I think it’s two organizations trying to look out for their particular residents.”
Trustee Cindie Swisher expressed concern over the massive growth in Poncha Springs. “We in BV have several subdivisions that are in the works,” said Swisher. “We’re reaching a point where we’re thinking, slower, more planned, thought out. Do you have problems slowing down?”
“No. Not at all,” assured Berger. “Change is hard. Growth is hard, and managing growth is even harder. If we want to set what that pace looks like, I have no problem with that.”
BV Town Administrator candidate Jarrod Biggs joined the work session by Zoom to introduce himself to the BV Board of Trustees.
Jarrod Biggs
Jarrod Biggs joined via Zoom from his father-in-law’s office in Montana. Growing up in Monte Vista, Biggs cited Buena Vista as a frequent destination throughout his life. Biggs explained that he had been working with or in local governments for the last seventeen years, most recently as the assistant finance director in Durango. He also spent about a decade with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs in Denver providing small-town consultancy, grant outreach, and rate study assistance.
“I have been passionate about local government service for my whole career,” said Biggs. “I fell in love with it when I was coming out of college, and I see Buena Vista as a fantastic opportunity to continue those efforts with a great staff and a great community.”
He also expressed a deep background in water resource management, suggesting that he could jump into the water rights portfolio a little easier than others. “I like to ‘geek out’ about this kind of stuff as well. It’s kind of fun to me,” said Biggs.
Trustee Peter Hylton-Hinga asked how Biggs would seek guidance or advice as he moves into the role. Biggs cited a number of reliable mentors and colleagues that he has cultivated over the course of his career that he could potentially lean on.
Biggs also explained that his leadership approach starts with listening, and he plans to listen to those in the community and on the staff and learn from them and their experience. “That leadership team that already exists in BV. I think that you have a fantastic team already developed and I want to take advantage of that by keeping them doing the good work they’re doing today and also pushing and challenging them,” said Biggs.
Town Administrator candidate Dannette Garcia introduces herself to the BV Board of Trustees. Photo by Carly Winchell
Dannette Garcia
Dannette Garcia was the final candidate to speak. Garcia has been working in local government for the past ten years, predominantly in the town administrator or city manager’s office. Garcia worked as the assistant to the town administrator in Addison, Texas. Garcia explained that, in Texas, getting a job at Addison is known as the “golden ticket” because the city manager has an important goal of building the profession. There she spent time in all the various departments.
After moving to Littleton, Colorado, Garcia spent three years working in public works for Greenwood Village and later as the Assistant Town Administrator in Parker. She emphasized her communication skills and ability to engage with and build collaborative efforts within the community.
Garcia said she has a collaborative leadership style, making it easier for her to work with others and bring people together. “I have spent my entire career in local government forging those relationships and building consensus,” said Garcia. “I think building consensus is more important than compromise, and you can’t build consensus unless you speak to everybody involved. And that’s speaking to the community, it’s speaking to the department directors and understanding what their expertise is, it’s speaking to your regional partners, and everybody else who is affected by the decisions that are made.”
Trustee Sue Cobb pointed out the difference in budget size between some places like Parker and how much smaller it is for Buena Vista. “Can you work with that?” asked Cobb.
Garcia replied that the first thing she does is look at the budget. She complimented the town on the number of grants they’ve been awarded. “The answer is yes,” said Garcia, “I can work with whatever budget is given to me. It’s all a matter of scale.”
Garcia said she would work to identify any other potential revenue streams that maybe are being missed and try to balance all the ideas with the amount of money to do them. “I think that would be my role, constantly prioritizing and adjusting and readjusting.”
The town administrator candidates met the Buena Vista Trustees during a town government work session, so there was no official action taken during that session.
Featured image: Two of the three candidates for the Buena Vista Town Administrator position attended the work session in person; Brian Berger and Dannette Garcia. Photo by Carly Winchell.
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