By: (AP) A planner for a ski resort was fired after she was identified as an anonymous source who criticized Aspen for its development of a housing and retail development.
Carolyn Poissant agreed to talk to
The Aspen Times about the Base Village as an anonymous source, but in the editing process she was identified by her gender and her job.
Poissant was the only female senior planner for the town, and she was placed on administrative leave the same day.
"Carolyn is no longer employed by the town," said Town Manager Mike Segrest.
Poissant says she was fired because of the comment in the newspaper and is not receiving a severance package. "It's like Segrest stuck out his tongue and said, 'So sue us,'" she told the
Snowmass Sun.
Poissant's anonymous comments in the Oct. 7 edition of
The Aspen Times included an allegation that "back-room" negotiations were being employed by Intrawest and the Aspen Skiing Co. -- the developers of Base Village -- and the town of Aspen.
She modified that statement the following day in the
Snowmass Sun, saying, "I never meant to imply that there was anything illegal going on. It's just the community is not being listened to. Anybody has the right to say that."
But by the time that statement was published, she was already on unpaid administrative leave. And late last week, the two sides officially parted ways.
The Aspen Times has apologized for the incident and ran an editorial encouraging the town not to fire Poissant.
"We are so sorry this has happened. I really respect what she did and think she stood up for something she believed in," said Jenna Weatherred, publisher of
The Aspen Times. "I'm disappointed Snowmass has decided this is what they need to do."
The Base Village development would add 635 condominiums, 10 townhouses and parking for 1,100 cars to the base of Fanny Hill, a popular skiing area.
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