The district manager for the Forest Lakes Metro District has resigned five months after taking the job.
Jon Wolf, who had not made it past his probationary period, cited disagreements with the district board as the primary reason he resigned Sept. 11. The office manager, Selina Gallero, also resigned Sept. 11, citing personal reasons.
Residents gathered Sept. 20 for a special board meeting expecting to hear more about the resignations, but the meeting was canceled because of a statutory technicality related to the secretary’s absence. The resignations would potentially leave the district office unoccupied after Nov. 22 unless replacements are found.
“The board will make whatever arrangements we have to make to make sure that that does not happen,” said Tony Schrier, board president.
The district is advertising for both positions. The board has received applications but has not yet scheduled interviews. Schrier said the board is working with Wolf on a timeline that is good for him, and that Wolf has been flexible with his departure date to stay for more or less time as needed.
Forest Lakes subdivision is about 6 miles north of Bayfield. With more than 782 structures and 2,000 residents, the clustered neighborhood off County Road 501 is slightly smaller than Bayfield.
Residents pay about $1,500 a year to the district, which was formed in 1973, to manage and maintain infrastructure such as water, sewer, roads and recreational services within the subdivision.
The office manager, Gallero, resigned after 31 years of service. “I am seeking treatment for my writing hand,” she wrote in her resignation letter. She did not wish to comment further.
Wolf did not comment on the disagreements he mentioned in his resignation letter, referring all questions to Schrier.
“It has become clear that the board and I have significant differences of opinion regarding how the district should be run, and what the district’s priorities should be,” Wolf wrote in his resignation letter.
At first, Schrier said he would not expand on those disagreements. Although, he and Wolf never had a conversation about Wolf’s concerns, Schrier knew in general terms what Wolf was concerned about, he said.
“If the residents who are concerned about this show up at the board meeting and pose the question, the only thing they’re going to hear is that some of the board members and Jon disagree on what should be a priority and what isn’t,” Schrier said.
He would not describe the board’s priorities. He said some board members and Wolf wanted to do things differently and that the board has the final decision when setting priorities.
“We work together on resolving any differences in an open meeting,” Schrier said, adding that residents with related questions should come to the next meeting, at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“Our budget is being handed out at the next board meeting, and the answer to what they’re looking for is probably in there,” he said.
smullane@durangoherald.com
