The 2004 September meeting of the CCTA-Eastern Division was attended by 19 Treasurers, 3 Public Trustees, 3 Deputy Treasurers, 3 Deputy Public Trustees and 2 spouses.
Pres. Alynn Huffman (Gilpin CO) called the meeting to order Thursday at 12:30 p.m. and asked everyone to introduce themselves. Peggy Foley (Pueblo PT) then introduced our speakers Major Loren J. Randall, Trial Counsel and Captain Keith A. Robinson, Command Judge Advocate from Buckley AFB, the only JAG officers outside of the state headquarters. They presented a program on the Sailors and Soldiers Act, now known as the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act, beginning with the history from 1918 when the government wanted to protect the active military personnel from financial problems back home. Pres. George W. Bush had updated the Act which was effective December 19, 2003 to include dependents. Simply stated the Act prevents action against military personnel and their dependents if active duty has adversely affected their financial situation or they are unable to appear in person because of their assignments. They are deferred for the length of their active duty and additional extension the same as the active duty plus another 180 days. The officers said the best thing we could do was to tell the military dependents to contact their JAG officer. They provided a website where we might be able to tell if the person is on active duty: http://servicememberscivilreliefact.com.
Linda then asked if everyone would tell the group how they handle their public trustee fees, just to increase everyone’s awareness about different and better ways to keep track of the money and whether their funds are deposited into personal or county bank accounts.
Doris Porth asked about the proposed state by-laws change. There is concern about what happens to the executive committee if the current metro public trustees are replaced by political appointments and half the board members are metro. Discussion on a Vacancy Committee will be held at CCTA/CCPTA Fall Seminar.
Other roundtable discussions included the Great Colorado Pay Back, out-of-state letter about retained excess fees, requests for status of Releases, Clerks’ enforcement of margin requirements for recording, status of Certificates of Deposit issued before the taxpayer’s check is returned for non-sufficient funds, problems of tax liens against “Improvements Only” that are subsequentionally attached to the surface by the assessor, the 1:00 o’clock cutoff in the Clerk’s statutes, and the security/privacy problem arising with eRecording access to documents with social security numbers.
The meeting was recessed for dinner at the Southside.
Friday morning after roll call was taken by Linda Statz (Phillips), the Treasurer’s report showing a balance of $8,442.76 was distributed and filed for audit. A motion by Holly Williams (El Paso PT), 2nd by Lorraine Woolley (Prowers), to approve the minutes of the September, 2003, and March, 2004, meetings as posted on the www.e-CCTA.org website. Motion passed.
Bob Sagel (Morgan) presented a legislative report concerning Public Trustee issues: Housekeeping issues such as notarization changes clarified, the PT fees on large foreclosures, reading vs posting of continuances, deadline uniformity, and a variable foreclosure deposit amount. There is work on new legislations about Time Share companies using the indemnification forms, PTs having the authority to cancel a sale if a withdrawal is not filed, and the changing of the cure and redemption periods.
Alynn reminded the group that the Fall Seminar dates are Oct. 11-15 in Fort Collins and the agenda is on the website. Jim Covington (Lincoln) and Linda Statz reported on the Memory Institute Seminar. Michelle Miller (Park) and Alynn reported on the Dist. 6 meeting and the program on performance evaluation and teamwork enhancement. Wanda Lowery (Sedgwick) and Linda reported on the Colorado Notary Seminar and Linda offered to send a National Notary Association test to anyone in the group. Linda demonstrated a quick case of Identity Theft.
An update on the eRecording Committee was given by Jack Arrowsmith (Douglas PT) who announced that Jim Wills of the Boulder PT office was the new chairman. Jack encouraged the public trustees to work in conjunction with their clerk & recorders to apply for the state grant monies to get online with electronic recording. Alynn is working on a committee to design a new form that would work for either electronic or manual execution of Release forms. She had passed out the old forms and the newly proposed forms for ideas from the group. The final draft will be presented at the fall seminar.
The president asked for the nomination report. Susan Cochell (Baca) nominated the present officers to retain the positions for another year. Judy Clodfelder (Logan Deputy) said Patty Bartlett (Logan) did not want to be secretary again. Vice Pres. Lynne Bauer (Crowley) graciously volunteered to be Vice President/Secretary for the 2005 year. Motion by Holly, 2nd Sandra Berry (Kit Carson), to unamimously elect Alynn Huffman, President; Lynne Bauer, Vice President/Secretary; and Linda Statz, Treasurer. Motion passed. Alynn appointed Dee Ann Stults (Yuma), Susan Cochell and Michelle Miller for the March entertainment committee. Holly invited the group to meet in March in Colorado Springs. Motion by Bob Sagel, 2nd by Michelle, to hold the March Eastern Division meeting in Colorado Springs. Motion passed. Alynn then appointed Holly, Jack and Billie Mills (Elbert) to be the program committee for March. The meeting dates were set at March 24 & 25, 2005.
Linda asked those persons wanting name badges to send her the information desired. Charlene Cockrum (Alamosa) asked if everyone had received her email about the 2004 Tax Lien Sale rate of interest was 12%.
At 10:30 am Holly introduced her husband Wayne, an attorney in labor law for 17 years and currently an El Paso County Commissioner who presented a program on the new overtime laws from the Fair Labor Standards Act and distributed his simple interpretation in 42 pages. Mr. Williams stressed the importance of the keeping of time records by the department head. Without them an employee will probably win a case about unpaid overtime. He also reminded us that 16 & 17 yr. old employees cannot perform hazardous duties – and that includes driving. The group felt both programs at the meeting were exceptionally informative. The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am Friday to be followed by lunch.
Respectfully,
Linda L. Statz,
Secretary Pro Tem