The Dolores Board of Trustees welcomed a new interim town attorney on Monday, marking the end of Jon Kelly’s six-year tenure.
Trustees appointed Julie Westendorff, a La Plata County commissioner from 2013 to 2021, serve as the town’s attorney through January at the latest.
Kelly, who has held the role since 2018, will continue to handle legal matters in Dolores Municipal Court, he said. He grew up in Cortez and has worked in U.S. District Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Colorado and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Court, according to a biography on his firm’s website. His service to the town is ending.
Looking ahead, the trustees will form a three-member committee to find a new full-time attorney, said Town Manager Leigh Reeves.
Westendorff joined Monday’s regular meeting via video chat to introduce herself.
“I think I'm bringing a good background that'll match what Dolores needs right now in that I'm certainly well acquainted with southwestern Colorado and your town,” she said.
After serving as a La Plata County commissioner, Westendorff said she worked for the Durango-based law firm Maynes, Bradford, Shipps and Sheftel. That firm has long represented the Southern Ute Tribe, she said.
She has also done legal work for Park County and for special districts in the Denver region, she said. As La Plata commissioner, she worked with Montezuma County commissioners as well.
“Having been a commissioner, I'm a nerd about local government,” she said.
Westendorff said that if Dolores were engaged in litigation, she would not represent the town. She said she’s better positioned to handle day-to-day tasks or emergency needs, but not extended litigation.
“It's more being a Band-Aid to get you to your next attorney than maybe necessarily moving a lot of balls forward,” she said.
