Accusations of workplace harassment by a Palmer Lake trustee have prompted the town to consider solidifying its rules about removing elected officials.

In a meeting earlier this month, Glen Smith, the town’s acting administrator and police chief, told the town’s Board of Trustees that he had authorized an independent investigation into the actions of trustee Roger Moseley based on multiple complaints.

Smith said that an unnamed, independent attorney conducted the investigation and found that Moseley was allegedly creating a hostile work environment for female staff members of the town.

“Multiple female employees are afraid to go to work and leave work,” Smith said.

Moseley declined a request for comment on the matter. In a statement, Smith also declined comment, writing that “this is an open matter.”

Based on the investigation, which remains confidential, the board discussed its current hearing procedure for alleged misconduct by elected officials. Palmer Lake has not codified its own rules based on the state statute that allows for a vote on removal.

In CRS 31-4-307, Colorado law provides that a person may be removed from office by a majority vote of a board of trustees after a written charge and an opportunity for a hearing.

Last week, newly appointed town attorney Kent Whitmer told the trustees that a hearing would likely resemble a court proceeding, with the opportunity for each side to question witnesses. He said the town may also want to hire a hearing officer.

“To do that, you need to lay out the ground rules,” he said.

The board gave direction to Whitmer to draft a potential ordinance describing how the hearing would be conducted. Once his firm writes the rules, the Board of Trustees will have a chance to amend them and vote on their approval. Only then would a hearing on Moseley’s alleged conduct go ahead.

He said that the process would likely be expensive for the town, but he did not provide an estimate.

“Realistically, it’s going to take months,” he said.

The situation is the latest salvo in months of contention among Palmer Lake’s leadership, which has seen significant turnover in the past year. Moseley was elected to the board in a recall election triggered by petition last fall. He is also the plaintiff in two active lawsuits against the town.

Bill Bass, a former Palmer Lake mayor, told the trustees in public comment that he was concerned about Moseley’s behavior during his prior tenure with the town.

“His interactions with town staff were frequently accusatory and, over time, became abusive enough that requiring a police presence during his visits was seriously considered,” he said.

Others were skeptical of the harassment claims.

Grace Foy told trustees that Moseley “challenges people across the board, men and women alike, when he sees issues or incompetence.”

“That’s not harassment, that’s accountability,” she said.