Estes Park's Town Board actively makes decisions based on the collective intelligence and individual judgment of its members, ensuring outcomes are not predetermined by staff recommendations or external pressures. The board comprises seven distinct individuals, united by a shared commitment to deliberate action.
While recognizing the aspiration to be entirely free from bias and prejudice, a level of consciousness that is difficult to achieve, the discussion extends to how elected bodies navigate information. Historically, since the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, many American businesses have worked to achieve legal compliance, integrate work environments, develop cultural competence, and address both conscious and unconscious biases.
For the Estes Park Town Board, this understanding of bias informs their approach to governance. Trustees acknowledge that comments from the public or recommendations from town staff might explicitly or subtly lean toward certain conclusions. However, the board members emphasize that they do not feel manipulated into voting to match such perceived biases. Unless constrained by a hard-stop ordinance or law that forces their hand, the board retains full autonomy in its decisions.
Voters elected these trustees based on an assessment of their intelligence, knowledge, and capability for making sound decisions. A trustee's vote reflects their conviction that a particular decision is the right one for Estes Park, both presently and in the future, rather than an acceptance of any propagandized viewpoint. The board members assert they are not subject to persuasion by pro or con statements, nor do they feel compelled to vote a certain way based on a staff presentation, instead relying on their own capacities.
The board holds significant legal latitude in its operations. Trustees can request modifications to proposed amendments or resolutions, or they can opt to continue a topic to a subsequent meeting to allow for more extensive consideration of the issues at hand. The town attorney is also instrumental in ensuring that the board's actions remain within legal guardrails.
Despite their individual differences, the seven minds behind the dais share a "common desire to do the right thing" when reviewing, deliberating, and casting votes. This 'right thing' is not necessarily the path recommended by town staff. The voting process, which can result in outcomes like 7–0, 6–1, 4–3, or 0–7, is presented as democracy in action. There is no rubber stamp and no preconceived decision, as trustees understand they hold the public's trust and must listen to all input before voting according to their own judgment. Staff reports, while often having a specific goal in mind they would like to see approved, are understood not as bias but as proposals for the board's free consideration, reinforcing the democratic process.
