Palmer Lake will leave Fire Chief, Public Works supervisor jobs vacant
The changes also eliminate one Water position and reduce a full-time Public Works job to about 20 hours a week, requiring the town to prioritize work and adjust schedules.
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Palmer Lake will leave its Fire Chief and Public Works supervisor positions vacant, eliminate one Water position and reduce a full-time Public Works job to about 20 hours a week as it tries to lower recurring costs amid pressure on its 2027 General Fund.
Town Administrator Patrick Davidson outlined the staffing changes in an Oct. 15 memo to the Board of Trustees. The memo describes administrative decisions and does not ask trustees to approve individual personnel changes.
The Fire Chief position will remain vacant after the chief’s departure. The Police Chief will also oversee public safety, with an interim Fire Chief from within the department assisting with fire operations. Town Hall will handle human-resources and administrative work.
Public Works and Water will operate as a combined department on an interim basis under the existing Water Supervisor, following the Public Works supervisor’s departure. Certified staff will continue water-system work, with costs shared between the Water Enterprise and General Fund according to actual use, the memo says.
The reduced staffing will require the town to prioritize work, coordinate staff and equipment, and adjust service schedules. The memo does not specify particular service cuts or schedule changes. It says officials will monitor service impacts, employee safety, water-system responsibilities and public-safety coverage.
Before the staffing changes, The Monument Independent reported that an earlier draft 2027 budget showed a $573,000 deficit after more than $200,000 in cuts. The report did not identify the deficit as a General Fund shortfall. Davidson’s memo says savings are expected from lower salary and employment-related costs but provides no estimate; updated personnel and benefit figures are expected in a separate revised budget, and the staffing changes alone should not be treated as closing the projected shortfall.
Trustees scheduled a public hearing on the draft 2027 budget for Nov. 12, according to the Oct. 8 meeting minutes.