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Basalt Town Manager receives Leo C. Riethmayer Award
August, 2003
Based on the Town of Basalt's concept of Social Capital – involving
citizens in the governance process – Town Administrator Tom Baker has
been awarded the Leo C. Riethmayer Award as the 2003 Outstanding Public Administrator.
Graduate School of Public Affairs
The Colorado Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha and the American Society of Public
Administration established the Award in honor of Dr. Leo C. Riethmayer,
who was the founding father of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado.
Pi Alpha Alpha and the Graduate School of Public Affairs at UC Denver seek
nominations each year for this prestigious award. This year they are honoring
Tom Baker.
Public Policy based in community
Throughout his career in government, Tom Baker has worked directly with the
local citizens to develop public policy responses to community issues.
His honor and respect of Basalt citizens has helped to make its government
inclusive of, and responsive to the members of the community.
Social Capital
The Town has endeavored to build Social Capital by encouraging and facilitating
a high level of citizen involvement. This "horizontal" model
of civic engagement is part of the Basalt Master Plan's goals and
objectives. The Town acknowledges the high value of citizen involvement
in community affairs, using a relationship of "reciprocity" by
including citizen participation on as many levels as possible. This is
the polar opposite of the "vertical" model of dependency and
authority, which can foster an all-too-familiar "us and them" attitude.
Valuable community input and problem-solving
Through the involvement of local citizens, the Town Council and staff are
more able to stay in tune with the needs, values and visions of the community.
Moreover, citizen involvement brings immense creativity and problem-solving
ideas to the table, enhancing programs and engendering trust in the process.
Social Ecology
Local Social Ecologist Jim Kent says, "Real participation comes from
honoring the complexities and exhilaration of life in our community. Participation
that leads to better democracy is an exciting process by which we empower
ourselves and each other. People in their everyday lives who have knowledge
and wisdom about their geographic place are the heart and soul of civic society,
and we should invite them to share their insights."
Contrast to formal, vertical
The "horizontal, informal" format of citizen volunteer groups
and networks is in direct contrast to a formal, vertical process. Note the
frequency of personal agendas and vested interests at formal meetings, as
opposed to a presentation born of citizen groups who have worked together
in a problem-solving and community visioning mode before the formal meeting.
People tend to feel less safe and equal when they walk into the formal setting "cold."
Basalt 2002: Hundreds of volunteers
Social Capital is difficult to quantify. Basalt estimates there are several
hundred citizen volunteers working directly with the Town during 2002.
Baker encourages civic involvement in the day-to-day governance of Basalt,
and the results are better solutions to local issues, based in community
values.
Baker's credentials
Tom Baker took his Bachelors of Science degree in City and Regional Planning
from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and his Master of Public Administration
from UC Denver. He has been a resident of the Roaring Fork Valley since
1983 and has served as the Aspen Assistant City Manager, Executive Director
of the Aspen/ Pitkin County Housing Authority, and Assistant Planning Director
for Aspen and Pitkin County. He received the Leadership Aspen Alumni Award
in 2001 and serves on the Aspen Institute's Community Forum Board.
He is an accomplished facilitator, a certified practitioner of James Kent
Associates program in The Discovery Process™ and serves as an advisor
to the Center of Social Ecology and Public Policy Ashland, Oregon.
Bringing it home
Tom Baker's management skills brought the highly acclaimed Roaring
Fork River Stewardship Roundtable to bear in Basalt. This citizen group worked
together for 18 months to study the dynamics of the Roaring Fork River and
its floodplains, and created Basalt's River Master Plan. Several citizen
groups have evolved since the February 2002 adoption of the River Master
Plan, working on community goals of a riverfront park system and the equitable
relocation of residents currently living in the flood hazard areas. In November
of 2001, Basalt citizens taxed themselves, by a 71% margin of approval, to
purchase open space for the future river park system.
Celebration August 12
The official presentation and celebration of the Riethmayer Award will take
place on Tuesday, August 12 in Basalt. This event usually happens on the
Front Range, but this year the Pi Alpha Alpha (Colorado Chapter) Board
members will come to Basalt to honor Tom Baker.
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