The South Suburban Park and Recreation District is kicking off a process to fill a vacancy after its board chairperson, Susan Pye, suddenly resigned Wednesday.
The process for filling the vacancy will differ from the last time the board was in the situation, with the addition of interviews and publicly available candidate applications. The changes follow criticisms the district faced regarding transparency during its vacancy process in 2023, following the unexpected death of board member Dave Lawful.
This time around, spokesperson Becky Grubb said the district will post completed applications in advance of candidate interviews, which will be conducted publicly.
South Suburban Executive Director Rob Hanna said the board decided to add public interviews in response to community concerns.
“The board consciously responded to community feedback asking for a more transparent process,” he said. “As a result, the board is calling a special meeting to publicly interview all interested parties to ensure the focus is on candidate qualifications.”
According to the district’s bylaws and state law, any vacancy occurring on a special district board shall be filled by a vote of the remaining board members.
The selected candidate will serve the remainder of Pye’s term, which ends in 2025, according to the district.
At the board’s April 17 meeting, Vice Chair Pam Eller read a statement announcing the resignation of Pye, who was not present at the meeting, Grubb said. A press release from the district said Pye chose to step away from her role to focus on her health.
During Pye’s time on the board, she supported the renovation of three outdoor pools, the opening of the South Suburban Sports Complex and the completion of the 2022 Master Plan Update, according to the district.
The Centennial Citizen has attempted to reach Pye for comment.
Applications for the board seat will be available on the district’s website on April 19 and must be submitted by interested candidates by 5 p.m. on May 15. After reviewing applications, the board will publicly interview all candidates at a special meeting at 6 p.m. on May 22.
Grubb said the completed candidate applications will be posted in the board packet for the May 22 meeting.
At the conclusion of the interviews, board members will vote on a person to fill the vacancy. Grubb said the board expects to swear in the new board member at its June 12 regular meeting.
The Board of Directors is composed of five members who serve staggered four-year terms, with a term limit of eight years, the district’s website says. The board governs the 46-square-mile district that includes Littleton, Sheridan, Lone Tree, and parts of Centennial, Douglas County, Jefferson County and Arapahoe County.
To be eligible to serve on the board, a candidate must be registered to vote in Colorado. They also must be a resident of the district, own taxable property in the district or be married to or in a civil union with someone who owns taxable property in the district.
Candidates can submit applications via email to jking@ssprd.org, or via mail or in person to the South Suburban Sports Complex at 4810 East County Line Road. Mailed applications should be addressed to Attn: Jennifer King, 4810 East County Line Road, Littleton, CO 80126.