Southern New Mexico Common Cause
Annual Meeting Minutes for August 20, 2003 at 11:30 a.m.
J.W. Flours Bakery and Catering
Attendance: A. Avallone, P. Banks, C. Bigelow, A. Burr, R. Gurley, R. Jenkins, W. Jenkins, J. Kadlecek, M. McCamley, D. Page, V. Quiroz, C. Welch
1. Reports
The CCRC has completed most of the legwork; the next step is to have the issues discussed at public forums in order to continue citizen input. With the mayoral election coming up, this will also allow us to see where the candidates stand on the issues that we are working on changing. We will now begin to assemble all our information into one report for public review. Our next step is to get board approval of the possible Charter amendments.
The City Council has chosen to televise the meetings, there is a hope that the County will follow their lead. Although there has been some concern regarding what is involved, Welch will speak with the public information officer to get details, mainly because of regulations and requirements, i.e. ADA and translation.
§ City Council — Page
Unfortunately, everyone on the council seemed to have forgotten why they were at the meeting in the first place. When the meeting got started Frietze proposed a .25% tax increase and it was killed. The accounting firm has been engaged and they will have the audit completed by December 1 , 2003.
§ City Council — Kadlecek
There was a 6-1 vote to increase the utility rates #5 over 3 years. The commercial rates will vary.
§ NMSU Regents — Bloom
A letter from the Chairman of the Board of Regents was received and read into the record.
§ School District — Banks
The Board is moving towards a paperless meeting, everything will be available on PDF prior to the meetings at www.lcps.k12.nm.us. For those that do not have electronic access the information can be picked up at the local school. Their meetings are televised and they are not ADA compliant, nor do they have a translator.
There was a good turnout at the public forum. The public forum showed there are a lot of people interested in what happens to the hospital. The surveys showed there were three areas where more information was needed on the hospital district and the financial situation. The next step should be to create a debate on what should be done with the hospital, the last forum gave views and allowed people to think about the issues, now we should debate the issues. We should have each panelist take a side and allow the audience to ask questions regarding their standpoint.
No report at this time, more information will come later.
2. Officers and Board Elections
a. Bylaws
§ Bigelow moved to change bylaws section 4D and 4F to delete chairman and change to chairperson(s)
§ Motion passed
b. Board Vacancies
§ McCamley will fill the vacant board position, expiring in 2005
§ Page will fill a vacant bard position, expiring in 2005
c. State Council
§ Page will be nominated to sit on the State council, expiring in 2004
§ Welch will be nominated to sit on the State council, expiring in 2006
d. Local Officer Elections
§ Co Chairs: Page and Kadlecek
§ Vice Chair: Asche
§ Secretary: Quiroz
§ Bigelow motioned, McCamley seconded, and Motion passed.
3. Website Update
No report.
4. Other Business
5. Closing
Minutes respectfully submitted by,
Vanessa Quiroz
Secretary
Signature and date of approval Local Officer Elections