LovelandPolitics
| Loveland's Independent News Source |
July 9, 2017
Loveland attorney and City Councilman Troy Krenning asked Loveland's city
attorney to investigate his colleague, Joan Shaffer, over her qualifications to
continue representing Ward II on Loveland's City Council since she appears to
no longer reside within Ward II; an important qualification for her office.
Shaffer claims to be residing on W 10th Street in Ward II but refuses to
disclose a specific address. In fact, one colleague along with a friend of Shaffer
report she has instead moved in with an elderly man who recently lost his
wife at his residence between 1302 and 1334 E. 6th Street in Loveland which
is not within Loveland's Ward II. In the meantime, her personal effects are
said to still be in her office where she moved them after departing her last
recorded address in Ward II.
Shaffer's Changing Residence History
In early 2013 LovelandPolitics published a sidebar story regarding Shaffer's
alleged "couch-surfing" and failure to maintain a residence within Ward II to
which she responded in writing. At the time, Shaffer was being chased by
creditors and according to city staff difficult to reach regarding city issues
given her desire to keep a low-profile presumably to avoid creditors.
The IRS filed tax liens against Shaffer and her then former husband (now
deceased) for unpaid federal taxes for the years 2007-2009 (on file in
Larimer County since 2010) while Comcast also was trying to collect unpaid
cable bills from Shaffer.
Shaffer than moved into a tiny apartment above the moBetta Gumba
restaurant in downtown Loveland at 141 4th Street owned by local developer
Barry Floyd. Floyd received nearly $1 million in City of Loveland subsidies for
the ArtSpace Project of another building he owned which Shaffer not
coincidentally was a strong advocate. In addition, LovelandPolitics was told
Shaffer took on odd jobs like cleaning the short-term apartments to cover
months she was unable to pay the full rent to Floyd for her modest apartment.
Loveland's City Charter clearly states that each city Ward be represented by
two city council members who must reside within the Ward they represent
for the duration of their term in office. Shaffer is unlikely to seek re-election
in November when her four year term expires.
Loveland attorney and City Councilman Troy Krenning asked Loveland's city
attorney to investigate his colleague, Joan Shaffer, over her qualifications to
continue representing Ward II on Loveland's City Council since she appears to
no longer reside within Ward II; an important qualification for her office.
Shaffer claims to be residing on W 10th Street in Ward II but refuses to
disclose a specific address. In fact, one colleague along with a friend of Shaffer
report she has instead moved in with an elderly man who recently lost his
wife at his residence between 1302 and 1334 E. 6th Street in Loveland which
is not within Loveland's Ward II. In the meantime, her personal effects are
said to still be in her office where she moved them after departing her last
recorded address in Ward II.
Shaffer's Changing Residence History
In early 2013 LovelandPolitics published a sidebar story regarding Shaffer's
alleged "couch-surfing" and failure to maintain a residence within Ward II to
which she responded in writing. At the time, Shaffer was being chased by
creditors and according to city staff difficult to reach regarding city issues
given her desire to keep a low-profile presumably to avoid creditors.
The IRS filed tax liens against Shaffer and her then former husband (now
deceased) for unpaid federal taxes for the years 2007-2009 (on file in
Larimer County since 2010) while Comcast also was trying to collect unpaid
cable bills from Shaffer.
Shaffer than moved into a tiny apartment above the moBetta Gumba
restaurant in downtown Loveland at 141 4th Street owned by local developer
Barry Floyd. Floyd received nearly $1 million in City of Loveland subsidies for
the ArtSpace Project of another building he owned which Shaffer not
coincidentally was a strong advocate. In addition, LovelandPolitics was told
Shaffer took on odd jobs like cleaning the short-term apartments to cover
months she was unable to pay the full rent to Floyd for her modest apartment.
Loveland's City Charter clearly states that each city Ward be represented by
two city council members who must reside within the Ward they represent
for the duration of their term in office. Shaffer is unlikely to seek re-election
in November when her four year term expires.
| Loveland Councilwoman Refuses to Resign; After Leaving Ward II |
| Loveland Councilwoman Joan Shaffer, right, being sworn-in alongside her then husband Mark Shaffer. |
Joan, I have pretty reliable information that you no longer live in your ward. Before I ask the City Attorney and City Clerk to assist in determining your place of residence I'd like to simply ask you to share your current address and confirm that you reside in your ward. This information is now coming from several sources and will likely become a rather public issue very soon. Thank you, Troy Sent from my iPhone On Jul 7, 2017, at 9:22 PM, Ward II - Joan Shaffer <Joan.Shaffer@cityofloveland.org> wrote: Troy and Council, As stated previously, I live on W 10th. I have intentionally left my specific address out of this venue. The last time I shared where I lived with a few members of council, within 12 hours my personal address was posted on a local blog, replete with "posters" that police and legal council raised concern for my safety. I will no longer take that risk. I have registered my residential address as necessary on public record. Thanks for alerting me of the threat. Joan Joan Shaffer Loveland City Councilor, Ward II On Jul 8, 2017, at 8:19 AM, Ward I - Troy Krenning <Troy.Krenning@cityofloveland.org> wrote: Joan I'm not sure what "threat" you are talking about. You have elected to make make this a public issue by including others in what I had hoped would be a simple and discreet request. Clay, and others, I have been provided direct and convincing evidence that Joan resides in the 1300 block of East 6th (I will not disclose actual address as a courtesy), a home outside of the ward Joan was elected. If that is true, and I'm convinced it is, Joan is disqualified from serving on the City Council and any action she takes (and has taken) compromised the integrity of the Council and the City. The home addresses of City Council members are a matter of public record. I've never heard of any member of the Council who refuses to provide their home address, which of course is a requirement to run for and continue to hold a council seat. If Joan is a victim of crime then she can avail herself of the protection of our police like any other citizen, and she should. But the excuse that she can keep secret her address because her last address ended up on some "blog" is a little shallow. I am registering an official complaint that Joan Shaffer is no longer qualified to remain on City Council due to her living outside of her ward. I request the City Attorney and City Clerk investigate this complaint and provide the address of Joan Shaffer's "residence" to me and anyone else in the public who requests it. I also believe Joan Shaffer should be prohibited from participating as a member of the city council until this investigation is complete. Clay, if you need something more formal to begin and investigation please tell me what you think you need. If my complaint needs to be made in a public session I am willing to do that. I have had three citizens contact me about this issue. I'm happy to share more about what I know although I doubt it is necessary. Thank you, Troy Krenning Sent from my iPhone |