CENTER – A hearing that was scheduled for Feb. 4, has been postponed to Feb. 26 due to Center Town Trustee Bill McClure asking for and receiving an extension. 

At the Feb. 4 meeting, Town Manager Webb stated that the attorney from the Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency (CIRSA) received a request for an extension from McClure. 

Webb said he believed the reason for the postponement was because McClure just wanted to make sure that he had everything he needed for the hearing. Webb asked McClure if that was correct, and McClure agreed. 

“Bill has asked for an extension until the 26th, so tonight we just need to grant that extension,” Webb said. 

Trustee Paul Lopez asked, “Being that we have changed dates on this hearing a few times, so that the public is made aware, can we post a sign here at town hall that shows the new date?” 

Town Attorney Mike Trujillo, who attended the meeting via phone, said it would be appropriate to allow a sign at to be put up and it would be a good idea to put up a notice for the next board meeting, with the agenda item to be for the hearing.   

A motion was carried unanimously, with Trustee McClure abstaining, for the court hearing to be moved to Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. at the old pharmacy building.  

The hearing is being held due to an incident that occurred at McClure’s place of residence in 2024. McClure received a visit from Center code enforcement officer Orlando Rascon at his home, which is also his place of business. 

Rascon was doing a routine building permit check on McClure, who was building a shed. At the time Rascon visited, he was wearing a body camera and the interaction that occurred between McClure and Rascon was recorded by the camera.  

The video shows Rascon asking 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 stop, until his permit was renewed. 

According to Rascon and the body camera footage, McClure told Rascon to shove the permit up his (expletive), and to go back to his “wetback” friends. Rascon reported the incident to Town Manager Webb, and in a town meeting on Nov. 12, McClure admitted to directing the racial slur at a Center employee.  

A shouting match ensued at the Nov. 12 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 moved forward with charges and a hearing that could end with McClure’s removal from the board.