The Ouray City Council voted last week to extend City Administrator Silas Clarke’s monthly housing assistance payment for the next year after Clarke said he hasn’t been able to purchase a home in the city yet.

“The intention was great, to give me an incentive to buy into the community,” but it hasn’t been possible yet, he told the council Nov. 17.

Mayor Pro Tem John Wood recused himself from the vote due to a conflict of interest – he’s Clarke’s current landlord.

“And I would ...