Council

Council

Fundamentals - Let's Focus on them.

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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 They can update ordinances that are outdated.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).

Positive Option - Businesses 4 - Hope the Three See this! →

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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.

As Promised - Full Post and a few Notes

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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*

Positive Option - Businesses 3

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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.

Breaking the Law - Our Ordinances

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For the Record:

1-3-1 This ordinance says essentially - the ordinances are local laws. If you do not obey our ordinances then you are subject to either the fine listed or $0-$500 dollars and possibly jail.

1-3-2 A lists the procedures for the Police Dept. officers to follow in issuing a citation.

1-3-2 B says this: Procedure for the Mayor or his designated agents. Whenever the Mayor or his designated agent(s) has probable cause to believe that a person has violated any ordinance of the Village of Bosque Farms, excluding traffic violations not amounting to a breach of the peace, but punishable by fine and/or imprisonment, the Mayor or his designated agent(s) shall prepare in triplicate the ordinance violation citation form which is described in Subsection A of this section. At the time the citation is written, the Mayor or his designated agent(s) shall deliver a copy of the ordinance violation citation to the accused.

Yes! The Mayor can and should hold you accountable for breaking an ordinance. The Council has done this all over the place and in front of the Police Department Chief of Police among other officers.

There is a process in place - let's follow it.

Seriously??? Meeting Again?

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Yet another meeting??? And at a different time and day than normal?

Wait? Weren't the meetings were changed to WEDNESDAY because some of the Councilors just COULD NOT do a meeting on Thursday? Yet here we are on a Thursday having a meeting at yet a different time.

Our ordinance say this: 2-2-2 A. 1. Regular meetings. The governing body shall hold its regular meetings at such time and public places as it designates and deems necessary to conduct the business of the Village. These meetings shall follow a regular schedule whenever possible.

It might not be illegal but it sure isn't good practice to continue to hold so many meetings and at different places and times and dates.

Just do the business of the Village in one meeting. That has worked for years and years and years. Why can't it work that way now?

Malfeasance - removal from office.

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Our Ordinance

§ 2-2-9 Removal from office. Any person elected or appointed to an elective office of the municipality may be removed for malfeasance in office by the District Court upon complaint of the Mayor or Council of the municipality. Any such officer shall be entitled to a hearing at a time fixed by the Court after not less than 10 days' notice of such proceedings by service, as in the case of summons in civil actions, with a copy of the complaint filed in the proceedings.

So if the Mayor has complained (has he?) then it's time for the hearing ten days later for the Councilor who has demonstrated malfeasance. Each one of the Three who have demonstrated malfeasance.

I read this to say once a complaint has been made the District Court can remove this person until the hearing.

Contrived Emergency 3 and Lots to Look at Here 3 and 4

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So you can go back and review the latest posts including the email from Councilor DeSmet.

First we recognized she sent this from her personal phone despite the fact that she explicitly told the reporter she doesn't use her personal phone for Village Business.

Second we recognized that a writ of mandamus was being used incorrectly in this instance. Incorrectly because you can't use a write of mandamus to force people to do things they can't/should not/are illegal to do.

Now let's finish up with two more items of consideration.

  • Looks like a threat doesn't it? Writ of Mandamus. You do what I want or I will take you to court. No wonder employees are quitting if they have to put up with that nonsense.

  • Yet again, a contrived emergency or two.

First contrived emergency- Let's get rid of the treasurer - let's make the Village such a miserable place to work and then demand money be spent by whom? A treasurer that isn't there? Sounds like a fake emergency. There is a post on this blog about the 4.9Million Federal Funds that the Three want to change - The council can vote randomly to change funding from one use to another - but if that funding is from a specific source for a specific reason no matter how much you want to - you can't change it. (And they have been told this. You would know this if you sat in that meeting as well.) And ARPA funds can't be spent without a treasurer.

Second - Let's get rid of the EMT Volunteer director and then scream about not having EMT. Let's support the fire department when they loan out the gurney in our ambulance and support the decision to loan out the ambulance to Peralta. Let's make it impossible to work in the Village even as a volunteer and then scream about what we don't have.

Just wait until people realize there is no zoning officer because the Three got rid of that position. When the residents are upset, guess what the Three will be yelling about next.

Go look at the budget yourself! I have. I'm just hitting the truth button.

We've been set up to fail

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Let's see. Who has left since the current group of councilors have been elected:

Clerk Administrators - Vernon Abeita, Michael Limon, Shaylin Lopez, and now Erica Martinez. Did I miss one?

Other Employees - The treasurer (who might as well have been fired) the Police Chief, some officers, the volunteer EMT director.

Others - One Attorney and on whole attorney firm. What's more ask the Village how many people have responded to the request for more representation.

Each one of these that have left have said the same things: the lack of ethics, the lack of decorum, the lack of professionalism, being sworn at etc all result in a terrible place to work.

One Councilor.

And all of this because of the yelling, the rudeness, the secret decisions on how to vote, the meddling in the executive branch of the government. WTH when do they stop???? Who is next?

Treasurer Update and Contrived Emergencies →

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You can see the Councilor update here by clicking on this link and scroll to 1hr 31 minutes. Treasurer Update

WTH - 1 hour 31 minutes to get to the treasurer report?

So, how have we been set up to fail and who has done it?

The Council harassed and fought with the previous treasurer. They didn't like that she insisted on following procurement laws. They didn't like that she was strong and knew her stuff. They made demands such as when Councilor Desmet said: "We want to know every expense"

The previous treasurer asked in that meeting 'you want me to read the budget to you?? That will take all night.'

Finally it was at a point that the Council was telling the previous treasurer - Quit or Be Fired.

So the end of the month when monthly reports are due and the end of the year when year end reports are due and the end of the payroll time when payroll is due and the start of the month when bank recon happens and the start of the year when new budget is due and all the new yearly bills come in- she was ousted out.

The Village of Bosque Farms was set up for Failure.

The Council might stand by their words 'we didn't fire her' but they threatened it. They kept putting her on the agenda under executive session. Every employee knows when you are on executive session what will be discussed is if you stay an employee.

The worst time of the year to get rid of an employee - the worst time of the year to get rid of a treasurer... and now the Council is screaming at the Mayor and the current Treasurer and the Clerk Administrator - Why haven't bills been paid?

Well this is a result of the situation the Council put this Village into. What a shameful situation.