The Firestone Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Wednesday to restore a memorial honoring a 3-year-old boy who died in a tragic blind cord mishap in 2010, ending a controversy that erupted shortly after the town removed the memorial in March while the boy's parents were out of town.
"My family is extremely happy that this newly configured Board of Trustees has listened to the people in the community and our family's wishes," Andrea Sutton said following the vote.
Sutton, who has since moved to Berthoud, said that she was happy the board has "finally given the town staff direction to put the original memorial for our son Daniel back where it was, as it was."
She added that she is looking forward to the new landscaping that will accompany the memorial. The exact date the memorial will be replaced was not clear on Wednesday, but Public Works Director Theo Abkes said he could expedite the process if needed.
The removal of the memorial, a large stone fitted with a plaque paying tribute to Daniel Sutton, came on the heels of a January ordinance that seeks to make memorials in town more uniform in nature, but its sudden disappearance from Firestone Trail near Harney Park in March while Daniel's parents were on vacation didn't fly with many in the town.
The removal came on the heels of an ordinance passed in January that seeks to make memorials in the town more uniform in nature.
Former Town Manager Bruce Nickerson, who oversaw the removal, quit his job in late March and in his resignation letter blamed "ongoing harassment" by Andrea Sutton for his decision to jump ship. Information came to light, however, that numerous women have alleged Nickerson mistreated them while he was town manager, and the town paid out cash settlements to two of the women who filed workplace misconduct complaints.
Prior to Wednesday's vote, Sutton told the council that her son's untimely death and the decision to place the original memorial in 2010 brought the town together and allowed her family and residents of Firestone an opportunity to heal.
"This is where we are eight years later," she told the board. "Is this what you want the town of Firestone to be known for? That you rip out a little boy's memorial?"
David Sutton came to the podium after Andrea's allotted two minutes to speak expired — she briefly sparred with Mayor Bobbi Sindelar for extra time, unsuccessfully — and said that he wanted it to be clear that the family never asked for the new memorial.
"We don't see what is wrong with the original one," he said. "The original memorial should be left alone."
Seven other people spoke — all in favor of putting the original memorial back.
Town records indicate the board considered several options before voting on Wednesday to include installing a newly made memorial and returning the old one to the Sutton family or putting the old one back and "grandfathering" it in because it doesn't comply with the new ordinance.
Immediately upon the measure coming up for discussion, Trustee Samantha Meiring said that she had heard "loud and clear" that the family and community wanted the original memorial put back.
"I propose we do just that," she said. "That is clearly what our community has requested."
The board briefly discussed its options before deciding to restore the memorial.
Immediately prior to the vote, Trustee George Heath said "ditto" to Meiring's sentiment, adding that he had read many of the emails from residents who wanted the memorial put back.
"If we put it back, we are done," he said. "Let's get it behind us. We have to many things to do in this community other than continue to haggle and haggle. I'm done tonight."
John Bear: 303-473-1355, bearj@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/johnbearwithme