CENTER – In a special Town of Center trustee meeting on Dec. 17, the board, which includes the mayor, decided to file formal charges against trustee Bill McClure to have him censured or removed from office. 

Center town attorney Michael Trujillo read off the possible charges.  

The decision for the filing of the charges came after an incident in November when McClure told a town employee to go back to his “wetback” friends. At a subsequent town trustee meeting on Nov. 12, McClure did not deny saying this. Nearly everyone at the meeting was upset and outraged by McClure’s comments, some calling for his removal or to step down. 

McClure received a visit from town Code Enforcement Officer Orlando Rascon at his home and place of business. Rascon was doing a routine check on McClure’s home, because McClure was building a shed, and Rascon was there to make sure that McClure’s permits were up to date on the build. At the time of the visit, Rascon was wearing a body camera and the interaction that occurred between McClure and Rascon was recorded.  

Rascon asked McClure about his permit and after seeing McClure’s permit to build was expired, explained to McClure that the build on the shed would have to be halted, until his permit was renewed. 

According to Rascon and the body camera footage, McClure told Rascon to shove the permit up his ass, and to go back to his “wetback” friends. Rascon reported the incident to Town Manager Cole Webb, and in a town meeting on Nov. 12, McClure admitted to what he said.  

A shouting match ensued at the meeting, and although McClure has since apologized to Rascon, via text message, and has stated to the town and board that he did apologize, the board of trustees would like McClure charged and possibly removed from the board, as he acted in a way that was abusive according to his position with the city, as a town trustee.  

At the special meeting on Dec. 17, attorney Trujillo read off the possible charge that McClure will be facing, explaining that if the board decided to proceed with the charge, they would have to make a motion to proceed. 

Trujillo read aloud the constitutional articles pursuant to the hearing and charges and then said, “Whereas the board of trustees for the Town of Center received a complaint regarding alleged inappropriate and abusive behavior by town Trustee Bill McClure, which occurred on or about November 12, 2024, involving town employee, Code Enforcement Officer Orlando Rascon. Where it is alleged that Trustee McClure became verbally abusive to the town employee and used an ethnic slur, to describe persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Whereas in a public meeting on November 12, 2024, Trustee McClure admitted to the use of the ethnic slur and continued to defend the use of the ethnic slur in the public meeting. Whereas on December 11, 2024, the Town Manager received a formal complaint dated November 27, 2024, from the town employee concerning this incident.” 

Trujillo continued by listing the article in the Colorado constitution that provides that the town board of trustees may need to consider the removal of a trustee for misconduct. 

“Whereas the actions of trustee McClure sustained, constitutes misconduct, as this behavior violates and or exposes the town to liability under title 7 of the civil rights act and the Colorado antidiscrimination act. As well as potentially other statutes and constitutional violations. Notwithstanding the unlawful nature of the behavior under state and federal employment laws such behavior is sustained but nonetheless inappropriate behavior and constitutes misconduct of an elected official,” Trujillo said. 

McClure stated that he felt it was wrong for the board to follow through with the charge as he had apologized for what happened, and the situation had occurred between him and Rascon on his “own” property, not on city property or in or at City Hall. He also said that he had no idea that Rascon was wearing a camera, and those things should be considered before a motion was made.  

A motion was made to go ahead with the charges against McClure. Trujillo then explained that a hearing was scheduled for Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. for the presentation of evidence and voting for the removal of Trustee McClure.