This is a summary. The full committee record for this model, including research findings, design questions, and charter implications, is in the Guide to Governance Options.
What this model is
Ophir's current General Assembly system is one of only two direct democracies of this type in Colorado, the other being the town of Ward. Every registered voter who attends a monthly GA meeting holds an equal vote on any matter before the assembly. There is no separate council, board, or other ongoing governing body between meetings. The charter sets a quorum of seven people and requires a majority of those present to pass any motion, ordinance, or resolution.
How authority works
Every registered voter in attendance may speak and vote on any agenda item. The GA meets monthly and handles the full range of town business:
- Annual budget and mill levy
- Ordinances and resolutions
- Contracts above the $5,000 charter threshold
- Land use decisions
- Legal matters and intergovernmental agreements
- Routine operational questions
The Town Manager carries out GA directives between meetings but holds no independent governing authority. Staff and committees provide operational and advisory support, but authority to decide rests with the GA. Voters who do not attend a meeting do not vote on decisions made at that meeting. The charter does not address remote participation or abstention explicitly.
What the current charter specifies
- Quorum: seven registered voters
- Contract approval threshold: $5,000 (set when the charter was drafted)
- Meeting schedule: monthly
- Between-meeting emergencies: no formal defined procedure beyond the Town Manager's general administrative functions
What would stay the same
Choosing the Current GA as-is means no change to the governance structure. The committee has separately identified housekeeping updates that would likely be pursued regardless of which model is chosen, including provisions for remote participation, abstention handling, and the contract threshold. Those updates would not change the fundamental direct democracy structure.