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Tom Baker is 2003 Outstanding Public Administrator

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.