Town of Mountain Village hires Town Manager, Attorney and Finance Director
At its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, January 20, 2022, the Town of Mountain Village Town Council officially hired Interim Town Manager Paul Wisor as Town Manager, as well as appointed David McConaughy as new Town Attorney. Additionally, the Town welcomed Lizbeth Lemley as its new Finance Director.
Wisor was originally appointed to serve as the Mountain Village Town Attorney on behalf of the law firm Garfield & Hecht in September 2020. In September 2021, he was designated Interim Town Manager upon the retirement of then-Town Manager Kim Montgomery.
McConaughy has served the town on specific projects since Garfield & Hecht was retained in 2020. With Wisor’s transition into the Interim Town Manager position, Garfield & Hecht was retained and McConaughy began to serve as special counsel to the Town on behalf of the law firm.
Wisor’s law practice previously focused on public finance, land use entitlement work, real estate development and advising a wide range of government entities such as municipalities, counties, school districts and special districts.
“When one considers the opportunity to work with an incredibly sophisticated Town Council and an equally fantastic staff in one of the premier communities in the country, the Town of Mountain Village Town Manager position is one of the best jobs in Colorado,” Wisor said.
“I look forward to working with David, Lizbeth, and everyone else associated with the Town as we address some of the largest challenges the Town has faced in some time, including housing, the future of the gondola and the wastewater treatment plant,” he added.
McConaughy has extensive litigation and real estate practice and is a recognized leader in the Aspen region and throughout Colorado in these areas. He is also the head of Garfield & Hecht’s municipal practice group, and he also currently serves as the City Attorney for Delta and Town Attorney for DeBeque and New Castle.
“I have loved the Telluride area since the early 1980s and lived in Ophir in the 1990s,” McConaughy said. “I have represented Colorado cities and towns for more than 23 years, and I am delighted and honored to be appointed as the Town Attorney to continue providing legal advice and advocacy for Mountain Village.”
Lemley joins Mountain Village with more than 20 years of accounting and financial management experience spanning the public and private sectors. She most recently served as Winter Park’s Finance and Human Resources Director. She fills the position after former Finance Director Kevin Swain retired.
“During my 15 years in the Winter Park area, I gained experience in the hospitality and property management sectors which provides me a well-rounded understanding of the operations and challenges faced by resort communities,” Lemley said. “I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to join such an experienced and dedicated team during this exciting period of growth for the Town of Mountain Village. I look forward to working with Council, staff, and the exceptional finance team as we help to shape the future of this wonderful community.”
“Although the Town faces hiring challenges every day, we are incredibly lucky to have almost simultaneously filled three of our key positions with incredibly talented individuals with immense municipal experience,” said Mayor Laila Benitez. “With these hires, the Town is well-positioned to solidify the Town of Mountain Village’s place among the best resort communities in the country.”
Residents are invited to meet Wisor during his monthly opportunities to chat with residents at this week’s Coffee with the Town Manager on Wednesday, January 26 at 11 a.m. at Telluride Coffee Company. Coffee with the Town Manager is slated to occur on the last Wednesday of each month moving forward.
