FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DeLanie Young-Tapson Hired as Director of Community Services
Mayoral vacancy to be filled by Mayor Pro Tem Meehan Fee for the duration of the term
(June 13, 2023) – Telluride, CO --- The Town of Telluride announced DeLanie Young-Tapson as the new Director of the Telluride Community Services Department, previously the Rental Housing Department. Director Young-Tapson’s new role will oversee the Town’s rental housing portfolio managing properties and facilities, as well as potential future childcare and senior services.
DeLanie Young-Tapson has lived in the Town of Telluride for seventeen years with her family and has rooted experience in both the housing crisis and solutions through her work with the San Miguel Regional Housing Authority from 2006 through 2015, service on Telluride Town Council from 2015 through 2019, service as Mayor of the Town of Telluride from 2019 through May 2023, and service on the Telluride Housing Authority Subcommittee throughout her tenure as an elected official.
“Telluride has worked non-stop on solutions to our housing dilemma,” said DeLanie Young-Tapson in her resignation address on May 23. “Since 2016, the Town of Telluride has constructed 5 projects consisting of 86 housing units and a boarding house. We are currently under construction on another building which will contain deed restricted rentals and commercial space as well as the new Free Box. And parcels in town have been purchased which will eventually become stable housing for our local workforce.
The Community Services Department incorporates and expands upon the Rental Housing Department to not only address the needs of Town renters and property management, but also to bring about new services to better address the needs of the community.
“DeLanie is an incredibly qualified, experienced, and skilled individual and is wonderfully poised to fill the role as the Director of Community Services for the Town of Telluride,” said Deputy Town Manager Zoe Dohnal. “Her experience in housing is invaluable from administration to policy, execution and lobbying for state and federal resources. I am excited for DeLanie to build a newly defined Community Services Department as the Town works to address the full scope of needs to better support our community.”
The Telluride Town Council determined during today’s regular meeting that they will not hold a special election to fill the Mayoral vacancy due to the proximity of the 2023 Mayoral election. In accordance with the Town of Telluride Home Rule Charter, the Mayoral vacancy shall be filled by Mayor Pro Tem Meehan Fee until a new Mayor is elected.
The Town of Telluride will release more information surrounding the 2023 election processes and schedule for those interested in running for an elected position in the coming weeks. Sign up for the Town of Telluride newsletter by visiting bit.ly/totnews to learn more.
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Communications Manager
Lindsey Mills
Cell: (303) 319-6448
Email: lmills@telluride-co.gov
ABOUT TELLURIDE
A former Victorian mining town in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, Telluride was incorporated in 1977 as a home-rule municipality. Set in a box canyon amid forested peaks at the base of the popular Telluride ski-and-golf resort, the town’s historic district houses landmarks like the Sheridan Opera House, a performing-arts venue originally built in 1913, and the Telluride Historical Museum, which showcases local history in a converted hospital built in 1896. For more information, please visit us online at telluride-co.gov.