Montrose City Council's Dereliction of Duty:

Abdicating Authority to the City Manager

In Montrose, the City Council has increasingly shirked its responsibilities as elected representatives. Instead of directing policy and overseeing governance, council members have ceded critical decisions to the City Manager. This reversal of roles undermines their responsibilities and represents a clear dereliction of duty. The City Manager's position exists to implement council directives and handle daily operations, not to dictate policy or control the council. Elected officials serve the public, while the manager serves at their pleasure. Yet, for years, this dynamic has flipped, allowing unelected bureaucracy to steer the city's future. Residents deserve a council that reclaims its authority and prioritizes Montrose's needs over ceremonial posturing.

Abdicating Policy Leadership

The council's habit of deferring to the City Manager erodes the foundational structure of local government. Under Colorado law, city councils are tasked with setting policy through ordinances, resolutions, and budgets, as outlined in the state's municipal code. The manager's role, per the council-manager form of government adopted by many Colorado cities, is administrative: executing policies, managing staff, and advising the council without overstepping into legislative territory. By allowing the manager to lead on key issues, the current council has blurred these lines, effectively outsourcing their elected duties.

This pattern has persisted for over 15 years, turning the council into a rubber-stamp body. Rather than debating and shaping initiatives, members often approve manager-proposed agendas with minimal scrutiny. Such passivity not only disempowers the council but also distances decision-making from public accountability. If the manager drives policy, who holds the Manager responsible? The answer should be the council, but their inaction suggests otherwise. This setup invites inefficiency and potential abuse, as unelected officials gain undue influence over taxpayer-funded operations.

Consequences of Poor Policies

The results of this hands-off approach are evident in Montrose's mounting challenges. Debt levels have ballooned under policies that prioritize short-term gains over fiscal prudence. For instance, unchecked borrowing for projects, long-term debt which now exceeds $200 million has strained the city's budget, burdening residents with higher taxes and fees.

Hollow Public Engagement

Public input, a cornerstone of democratic governance, has become a complete farce under the current council. At meetings, residents are allotted time for comments, yet these are systematically ignored. Council rules explicitly state that members will not respond or address raised issues, rendering the process meaningless. This is not engagement; it is theater designed to mimic concern without substance.

True dialogue requires interaction: questions, responses, and follow-up actions. Instead, Montrose citizens face a one-way street where their voices echo in vain. This futility discourages participation, eroding trust in local government. If the council truly valued input, they would integrate it into deliberations during public meetings, or perhaps through regular town hall meetings and dedicated interactive sessions that are convenient for the public rather than at the council’s convenience. The current system is mere window dressing, perpetuating the illusion of accessibility while shielding council members from accountability.

Breaching Transparency Laws

Compounding these issues are reports of council members evading Colorado's Sunshine Law, which mandates open meetings for public business. Allegedly, the three most left-leaning councilors achieve consensus through serial one-on-one discussions, sidestepping quorum requirements. This tactic, if verified, violates the law's intent to ensure transparency and prevent backroom deals.

The Sunshine Law, codified in Colorado Revised Statutes Title 24, Article 6, requires that meetings of three or more members discussing public business be open to the public. Serial communications that effectively form a quorum undermine this, allowing decisions without oversight. Such practices not only breach legal standards but also betray public trust. Residents deserve full visibility into how policies are formed, not secretive maneuvers that favor ideological alignment over open debate.

A Call for Reform

Montrose cannot afford another term of complacent leadership. The council must reclaim its role, directing policy while holding the City Manager accountable to their vision. Voters should demand candidates committed to active governance, fiscal responsibility, and genuine public dialogue. By addressing these failures, Montrose can rebuild a government that serves its people, not bureaucratic inertia. The time for ceremonial roles is over; real leadership is essential.

Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB”

Michael is a father of five, grandfather of three, U.S. Air Force Veteran, international recording artist, Editor-in-Chief of the Colorado DOGE Report and USA Liberty Report, a Citizen of Montrose, CO, passionate about Montrose, Colorado, the United States of America, Freedom, Liberty and the founders’ genius in crafting the Constitution.