ToadBook

Once again - It's ok to set up a go fund me account. That is just fine. It's ok to ask for funds as a citizen who isn't elected.

BUT when you are an elected official it just opens you up for all kinds of wrong.

When an elected official asks for funds regardless of the reason it is an ethical issue.

It opens her to accusations that she's expecting donations and being open to provide a favor in return.

Every local business, every potential business, every person who wants something from the council willing to pony up some money might donate but it just looks suspiciously like a buy my vote request.

It is no longer possible to see who donated. So who donated and who is she voting for to help? Are those the same names?

There are all kinds of ethical issues with this. The point is - if you are a councilor you are a councilor. You are not a citizen sometimes when you want to be and a councilor when you want to be.

That is what ethics are - you not only do the right thing but you stay aware of the way things look to the general public and how they might be interpreted.

In the original post about the Bosque Farms Fire a post by Ms. Desmet thanking those who helped her was shared.

One last comment about this post.

She made it sound as if she expected the MRGCD to help her farm specifically.

But why? Why would she expect them to swoop in and help her personally?

These are the things they do for individuals: -- Help with water and farm planning -- Soil and Water Testing -- Financial Incentives and Water Leasing -- Property Mapping -- A few other random things.

The rest of what they do is take care of the Bosque. Ensure there is access to the Bosque, control access to the Bosque, provide recreational places and a few other things.

So when they were here fighting the fire - it was to help and because the fire was in the Bosque.

Anyone whose home was in danger and anyone who might loose their hay and hay barn in trouble - would ask for help too.

What is the one problem with this - She was a Councilor.

So any business that wanted to curry favor, any potential business that wanted special conditions, any person who might be in front of the Planning and Zoning Board and eventually the Council.... it's too their benefit to show up and help.

Generally, it isn't bad to ask for help. It is questionable when you are in a position of authority.

From a FaceBook post by Ms. DeSmet:

Within minutes we had friends, neighbors, kids, everyone at the dairy with help and support. Thank you to Opie, Anthony, and Nick for coming with trucks to wet down my hay asap. Thank you to Joe Johnson and his son in law Mr Manus for coming with a water truck as well! Thank you to Kim Dutton and Derick and Slade for standing by with a water tank! Thank you to Joanne for wanting to channel her inner “Erica” and tell people to get outta the way 😂 thank you to my Troy Turner for being there when the MRGCD wouldn’t, thank you to Andrew and Emily Garcia for assisting. Thank you to PG Enterprises for water trucks as well!

While it's wonderful she had help - let's be sure that Councilor Desmet recuses herself for any vote on these people - including anything to do with the MRGCD.

Let's Focus on the Fundamentals.

The Council is meeting twice a month - let's see if they can get something done that remains within in their range of duties.

Fundamentals? Let's see

• Ordinances. They can update ordinances that are outdated.

• Businesses - They can update ordinances with an eye towards attracting businesses. For those who don't know - that's called economic development and it can be a good thing.

• Basic Services - Sewer plant donut - asking for bids is certainly within their line of duties. Road repairs, fixing buildings like the library etc etc...

• Budgeting - Budget for enough employees to get the work done. Budget a real budget WITHOUT unrealized revenues. (Go see the paper from August 6, 2026).

A step, one small step, in the right direction! Instead of five, six, ten meetings a month anytime one of the three want to cause havoc there will be two a month!

Isn't that lovely? No more running around before a meeting trying to eat, get there only to find out it started an hour earlier or it starts in thirty minutes. No more guessing where the meeting will be held.

Two meetings a month!

The REAL question though is this: HOW did the Village of Bosque Farms get anything done since 1974 when it was incorporated?

According to those asked - at least over the last 40 years there has been ONE meeting a month.

What is this Council doing different? There is an answer to that question - it's called not following the separation of powers and trying to act like a mayor when, even as three, they are not.

This has been shared previously and will most likely be shared again. Check it out!

This one page on the Economic Development Department of New Mexico has so many links to more help, more education, more resources.

On this page alone: Science and Technology grants, LEDA, Tax Credit incentives, Business expansion resources.

Each one of those links leads you to more. There are even contact phone numbers and emails.

Every link or program is most likely not going to be helpful but WTHeck Three?! Why not look at this and see if you can do something amazing.

Take it to the Council - set up a committee, look at options and bring back to the Council a suggestion they can vote on.

Full Post as promised from previous post.

First, some was redacted. Other's people health is not for anyone, ANYONE, to share. (See XXXX's below).

Second, Just a note HIPPA is a medical federal law that says you can not share other's medical information.

Third Is it acceptable for a Councilor to call out employees by name? Not so sure on this. The Mayor and the Clerk are the bosses. Maybe they know something the Councilor doesn't (write ups? future awards? etc)

Fourth Employees names removed as they may not be in the Village's employment and as a rule this blog tries to not share names of anyone other than elected officials.

Good Evening Bosque Farms, Some of you may have been at tonight’s council meeting and some of you may not. Sadly, tonight, our Mayor, Wayne Ake, announced that he was stepping down. I spoke with him previously and I assure you he did not come to this decision lightly or even because he wanted to. *XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Removed XXXXXXXXX Wayne, thank you for chasing me out in to the parking lot and begging me to run for council office. I hope I make you proud by serving Bosque Farms the way they deserve. What does this mean? Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem, Ronita Wood, will step in for Wayne after he vacates, which is March 1 at 2am. After that, the council will elect, by majority vote, a qualified elector to fill the vacancy until the end of the mayoral term. Although you, the public, will not be able to vote to fill the vacancy, please remember that your voice can still be heard by calling or emailing any of the council members. We were elected by you the people and that is who we serve. Here is my information, E.DeSmet@bosquefarmsnm.gov, should you need it. Because the announcement was made just tonight, I will keep you informed as best I can when the meeting to announce the mayor that will fill the seat will be. Lastly, I want to send a huge shoutout to (three names removed) with the Bosque Farms Waste Water Treatment Plant. The plant is supposed to have 8 people manning it at all times and for the last few weeks it has just been the three of them! These gentlemen have kept the plant running and are doing the jobs of about 4 people. I would also like to thank them for working hand in hand with the Pueblo to get everything in order at the plant! Because of these three guys we still have working water and sewer in both Bosque Farms and Peralta! Also, an enormous thank you to (3 Names removed) the Pueblo of Isleta Public Works Department for stepping in to help our Village with the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). Your knowledge and assistance will help get the WWTP up to optimal performance. Good Night Village. Councilwoman Erica De Smet*

One thing the Councilors could do is invest in a program called "Buy Here" or Shop Bosque Farms or just about anything that encourages local shopping.

Why shop local? Once again - GRT.

What might that look like? Think creatively -

It could be very simple:

• They could have put a note on the water bill encouraging people to shop local. (Free to do)
• They can educate residents about how shopping local helps everyone.

It could be a little bit more complicated:

• They could even put a list of local businesses on Facebook. (Once again a better use than complaining!)
• They could develop a community card program.

It might be even more complicated:

• Build on the fair success and have a business night. Shut down the main street (Is that possible? they used to for parades) have a night out with businesses setting up booths, stuff for sale etc.

There are a lot of options. Do some research, pick some ideas, work with businesses to discover what they think might work and let's work together to build up Bosque Farms rather than tearing everyone down.

This was shared on February 16. It is from a post that Councilor Desmset wrote. (Obviously acting as a Councilor). This is just a snippet but the whole thing will be shared shortly.

Let’s remember what happened that night: Mayor Ake resigned. The employees stood up and spoke about what was happening and how they were feeling about working in the Village.

Feb 16, 2024.

Secondly, I want to say that I never want any village employee or volunteer to ever feel like they are not appreciated and that we, as a village, don’t support them. I can tell you that for those of you that gave your comments tonight, I am listening and I assure you that your feelings are valid and I will strive to make Bosque Farms, the place that you all said you love to work, the best place it can be for all of us! I hope that my fellow council people follow in my sentiments with wanting to make every employee feel appreciated.

That’s funny. Not funny haha but Funny Ironic Sad.

Since then:

4 Clerk Administrators have quit. Each one saying ‘This is a terrible place to work’.

2 Volunteers quit and many others have been told they can no longer volunteer (Community watch drives are no longer a thing sadly).

2 front office employees

2 or 3 or more (?) Zoning officers

The Treasurer,

The police Chief,

Some number of police officers, and some number of water/sewer workers

One attorney and one whole firm of attorneys.

1 Council Woman who left saying ‘This is not a good situation’.

And there are probably others, these are the ones currently known about.