The Town of Vail has initiated a national search to hire a Community Development Director. Online applications are available at vailgov.com/jobs with the first round of candidate screenings to occur in mid-June. The position was vacated in March when former director George Ruther, who had held the position since 2007, transitioned to the newly-created position of Housing Director for the town.

George Ruther, currently the town’s community development director, has been selected to serve as director of Vail’s newly-created housing department. Ruther was selected from among six semi-finalists and will begin his new role immediately.

Vail’s Annual Community Meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13 at Donovan Pavilion will be headlined by a celebration recognizing Sheika and Pepi Gramshammer as recipients of the annual Trailblazer Award as well as an overview of the state of the town introduced by Vail Mayor Dave Chapin.

The Town of Vail is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to conduct a comprehensive classification and compensation study and analysis.

The Town of Vail has initiated a national search to hire a Housing Director for its newly-created Housing Department following an organizational restructuring approved during adoption of the 2018 budget. Online applications are available at vailgov.com/jobs with the first round of candidate screenings to occur on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Officer Rusty Jacobs will be retiring from the Vail Police Department on Jan. 1 after a 27-year career with the department. He’ll be available to reminisce with community members from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31 at the police station, located at 75 S. Frontage Road.

The Town of Vail brought its commitment to housing to the forefront during the year, making more progress than in any other period in Vail’s 50-plus year history. With a newly-established goal to acquire 1,000 new deed restrictions by the year 2027, the town began making good on its goal by breaking ground on 32 homes at Chamonix Vail and committing $4.225 million to buy deed restrictions for 65 new apartments to be constructed by Sonnenalp Properties through the new Vail InDEED program initiated by the Vail Local Housing Authority.

The Town of Vail has announced the selection of Mia Vlaar to serve as its new economic development director. Vlaar brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position having served in a number of corporate, government and non-profit marketing and management roles since moving to the valley in 1988. She’ll join the town’s executive team effective January 1, 2018.

Public comment opportunities will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 17 as the Vail Town Council considers final adoption of the 2018 municipal budget. The $78.9 million expenditure plan is available on the town’s website. Second reading of the budget ordinance is listed as public hearing item 6.1 on Tuesday’s meeting agenda which begins at 6 p.m. in the Vail Town Council Chambers.

Public comment opportunities will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 3 and on Tuesday, Oct. 17 as the Vail Town Council reviews the proposed 2018 municipal budget. The $78.8 million expenditure plan is available on the town’s website. First reading of the budget ordinance is listed as action item 6.3 on the Oct. 3 meeting agenda which begins at 6 p.m. in the Vail Town Council Chambers.

The Town of Vail is seeking to hire an experienced manager to lead the town’s economic development office. Online applications are due Oct. 6 at vailgov.com/jobs. 

The Vail Town Council has selected Greg Clifton, the current municipal manager of Telluride, to become Vail’s new town manager. Clifton’s appointment will be formalized by the Town Council at the Aug. 15 evening meeting with approval of an employment agreement. Clifton will spend time transitioning between Telluride and Vail beginning Sept. 1 and begins full-time with Vail on Sept. 25. 

Mark your calendars for the Town of Vail’s annual Celebrating Community neighborhood picnic series Tuesday, July 25 at Bighorn Park in East Vail and Tuesday, Aug. 15 at Donovan Pavilion in West Vail. Each picnic will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - rain or shine - with free food and drink provided by the town on a first-come, first-served basis. The picnics provide community members with an opportunity to offer comments and suggestions about various topics and to meet members of the Vail Town Council and town staff. New this year will be a children’s activity area sponsored by the Vail Recreation District, so bring the kids.

Kelli McDonald, economic development manager for the Town of Vail, will be stepping down in September after 10 years on the job. McDonald’s last day with the town is Sept. 5. 

Three candidates remain under consideration to become Vail’s next town manager. With six finalists taking part in on site interviews on June 26 and 27, Mayor Dave Chapin says the town council has currently narrowed the search to the following applicants: Greg Clifton, municipal manager of Telluride; Tobin Follenweider, chief operating and performance officer for Colorado Department of Natural Resources; and Matthew (Matt) Fulton, active with non-profit agencies and former city manager of West St. Paul, Minn.