This meeting marked the conclusion of the 2020-2022 Town Council term, followed by the swearing-in of newly elected councilmembers and the organizational meeting for the new term. The council approved consent items, recognized outgoing Councilmember Caryn Johnson, heard public comments on speed humps and construction debris, approved an additional holiday for town employees, elected a Mayor Pro Tem, and approved the 2021 CDBG Annual Performance Report. Councilmember Desiree LaFleur was absent due to the passing of her father.
Good evening. We'll now open with a prayer from Pastor Matt Matt Franks from First United Methodist Church of Castle Rock. We join me in an attitude of prayer. Gracious Lord, just be uh with our town council tonight as they listen, discern, and make decisions to better our city. Be with each and every one of us tonight as we go home. And just remind us that in every step and every breath that we take, you are with us. So just be with us in this time and space. And all of us gathered here said. Amen. Thank you, Matthew. This meeting is being held in it as a connected meeting in accordance with town council electronic particip participation, connected hybrid meeting policy. I'll ask a town clerk for take roll call. Councilmember Hollingshead. Here. Councilmember KV. Yes. Councilmember LaFleur. Councilmember Johnson. Here. Councilmember Deeds. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Bracken. Present. Mayor Gray. Here. All are present with the exception of Councilmember LaFleur. Thank you. Please join me in Pleasant Leadance. I'd like to say uh, you know, uh the season, uh, some for most of us, hopefully most of us, is a joyous occasion. Uh Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year. Uh you know, unfortunately, there's a lot of um, it's not as joyous for some people than others. And I think that it's time for us to also reflect on on our citizens and people in Castle Rock, whether it's um somebody we know closely or not, you know. And I think that tonight I'd like to lean in lean in a little bit on forgiveness. Um, I think it's important that we um forgive each other. It's important uh that uh when somebody asks for forgiveness that you extend forgiveness to that person. Um just as important, if not more important, is is when somebody doesn't want forgiveness or doesn't believe they need forgiveness. I think it's awfully important for us to forgive them anyhow. Uh I would that was one of the things that was hard for me to get past. Uh I'm sure that we all there sometimes, sometimes when someone um in your life or um your past or present uh it doesn't uh want forgiveness, doesn't think they need forgiveness. Um it is important that we uh forgive. I know that uh Pastor Matt Franks in the back would probably do an entire uh sermon on on forgiveness and and how that works uh out. I mean, when you're forgiving somebody who doesn't want forgiveness, it's really about for um yourself and your own pain and letting that letting that dissipate and disappear. And probably most of all, and the third about forgiveness is um you need to forgive yourself as well. I think that's really important. People have a hard time forgiving themselves for past past transgressions. And once you have um apologize for somebody uh to for a wrongdoing, and it's important to uh to really forgive yourself. Um that way you can move on from that pain. Um I just like real quickly talk about um you know the last four years. I um I appreciate everything. It was uh it was a tougher four years than I uh anticipated.