A Denver-based consultant has been hired to help with the transition from longtime Pitkin County Assessor Tom Isaac’s leadership to that of newly elected Assessor Deb Bamesberger.
Pitkin County Manager Jon Peacock said he and other county officials planned on hiring the consultant no matter who won the November election because the office hasn’t undergone a leadership transition in nearly 30 years.
“(The consultant) is just providing some support to make the transition more smooth,” Peacock said.
Isaac has served as assessor since 1990.
Bamesberger was already a mid-level employee in the office before she was elected so she understands how the office works, Peacock said.
“She has more experience than a lot of newly elected (officials),” Peacock said. “Plus she has an experienced staff.”
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The consultant — University of Denver business professor Kathleen Novak — is the former longtime mayor of Northglenn in the Denver area and runs a program for newly elected officials, he said. She will meet with Bamesberger and members of the Assessor’s Office staff to find out what runs well and what might need to be changed, Peacock said.
Novak will work with Bamesberger on a transition plan and how it might be implemented, he said. She also will be able to provide advice and support.
The county has worked for two years to transition the county Treasurer’s Office from the longtime leadership of Tom Oken to new Treasurer Ann Driggers, he said. But because the assessor is elected — the treasurer is appointed — the county only had a matter of months to work on that transition, Peacock said.
Hiring Novak will cost $7,500 plus her travel expenses, Peacock said.