Crossett steps down as CB town manager

Council to discuss replacement process Monday, March 28

By Mark Reaman

The Crested Butte Town Council accepted the resignation of town manager Todd Crossett Monday evening at the start of the regular Town Council meeting. Crossett had submitted a two-sentence letter of resignation and the council voted 7-0 to accept the decision, along with a “separation agreement” signed by Crossett and delivered to the council by town attorney John Belkin.

Under the agreement Crossett will receive three months of severance pay and benefits, including use of the town-owned house where he and his family will reside until June 20. He is also entitled to be paid for 150 hours of unused vacation time. The agreement indicates the town will not object to Crossett applying for state unemployment insurance benefits for which he may be eligible.

His letter of resignation simply stated, “I hereby submit my resignation as Town Manager for the Town of Crested Butte effective Monday, March 21, 2016. I appreciate having had the opportunity to serve the Town and the Crested Butte community the last three years and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.”

A work session on short-term rentals to be led by Crossett had been cancelled earlier in the day and the council amended its agenda Monday evening to briefly discuss the resignation situation at the start of the meeting. Crossett did not attend the meeting. Belkin explained the terms of the separation agreement to the council and said the three-month severance pay was part of Crossett’s original employment contract.

“I would like to thank Todd for his service to the town and wish him good luck in the future,” mayor Glenn Michel said at the meeting.

Senior town staff members Lois Rozman and Bob Gillie along with Michel, will take the lead for town manager decisions immediately. The council has scheduled a meeting for Monday, March 28 to discuss hiring an interim town manager and a process for hiring a replacement for Crossett.

“The council and town manager were trying our hardest to work together and it just wasn’t being very effective,” commented Michel on Tuesday.

“There comes a time when it is best to part ways and move on. We understand Todd’s decision and for us as a council it was a hard decision. It means a lot of work for us and the staff so we realize this will be a challenging time. The council will get together to identify the attributes and goals we want in a new town manager and then determine the best way to fill that position,” Michel continued.

Michel wanted to reassure the public that there will be no let-down in service as a result of the resignation. “The general public will see no impact as a result of this,” he said. “Town services will continue as normal.”

Town staff will once again step up to fill a void while the search for a new town manager takes place. “I want to assure the staff that while these are ‘interesting times,’ I have absolute and complete faith in the senior staff,” said councilman Jim Schmidt to the staff at the council meeting.

Crossett said he is looking toward new opportunities. “It is time for my family and I to move into the next level of our life trajectory—to enhance our ability to take care of family and to take advantage of career growth opportunities,” he said Tuesday. “I am very proud of my staff and colleagues in partner jurisdictions and organizations and all that we’ve accomplished. And we have great fondness for the community and the many friends we have made in the Gunnison Valley.”

Schmidt wanted Michel to have a debriefing with Crossett to tie up any loose ends and see what unfinished business was on his plate. Michel and another member of council will accommodate that request.

It appears that either Gillie or town planner Michael Yerman will take over the short-term rental issue that was being led by Crossett.

Crossett was hired May 20, 2013. He has seven days to revoke the separation agreement so it will not officially become effective until March 28.