ToadBook

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.

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?

2-2-2 d) Enforcement. The Chief of Police... shall carry out all orders of the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining the order and decorum of the session. Upon orders from the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms to place any person who violates the provisions of this section under arrest and cause him to be prosecuted upon the complaint of the presiding officer in the Municipal Court, subject to punishment by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment in jail not exceeding 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

It's time Mayor. Past Time. The Councilor who yells at you, swears at you, blames you and interrupts you. The Councilor who won't let business be conducted.... It's time.

She's not following our ordinances! It's clear you can have her arrested. Do it.

You have the right to do it.

If you don't want to do that - have her removed for ten minutes and see if that doesn't calm her down and then try again. But this is enough.

2-1-2 B. 2. Exercise, within the municipality, powers conferred upon sheriffs of counties to suppress disorders and keep the peace; and

2-2-2 4) Decorum. (a) Mayor. The Mayor ****shall preserve the order and decorum, decide all questions of order and conduct the proceedings of the meetings in accordance with the parliamentary rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised unless otherwise provided by ordinance.

(b) Councilors. While the governing body is in session, the members shall observe order and decorum and neither delay nor interrupt the proceedings of the Council nor disturb any member while speaking nor refuse to obey the orders of the Council or its presiding officer.

Well well. Look at this. The Councilors are NOT following the ordinances. Note - Ordinances = Law. Shall = You MUST do this.

You have tolerated this behavior long enough. The public has tolerated her behavior long enough. It's time to just put a stop to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mqMa-Vfl-U&t=11s

This is who should get the award from NM FOG. Way to go Valencia News Bulletin.

Only question I have - when you see this link on FB you see comments have been hidden. Click on those comments and they are supportive of the Mayor. Why would those be hi

What else is there to say - Yet again, another problem with a meeting that the Three have insisted on holding.

Yet again, someone else (in this case Clara Garcia) is calling the Council on illegal behavior.

The press understands there was no emergency. The press understands meetings must be posted and in all the right places, which in this case didn't happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mqMa-Vfl-U&t=11s

This is who should get the award from NM FOG. Way to go Valencia News Bulletin.

Only question I have - when you see this link on FB you see comments have been hidden. Click on those comments and they are supportive of the Mayor. Why would those be hidden?

The Mayor follows protocol and ordinances and state law. The Mayor makes sure meetings run smoothly (Presuming everyone else follows the ordinances!)

So- we keep hearing about Rolling Quorum.

What is that? It's the idea that councilors agree how to vote prior to the official vote.

That is it.

It's against the law.

It is a violation of the Open Meetings Act. It's that simple.

"Fundamental to the Open Meetings Act is your right to witness both the discussions and votes of the Council." (Quoted from article listed below.)

Here is an article about Las Cruces violating the Open Meetings act. However, it explains rolling quorum and the problems associated with them very clearly. Read that article here.

So, when you sit in a meeting and see two Councilors look at one prior to voting as if they are waiting for guidance how to vote - that is a big oops.

When you sit in a meeting and see an obvious scripted performance with the eye rolling, laughing, comments that build on each other - that is a big oops.

When you drive by a house and see their three cars outside - that is a big big big oops.

Note this: They are NOT just breaking the law. They are violating your right to hear the debate, understand their vote, have a say in the government actions (because the decisions has already been agreed to among the three.)

Get Educated - Meetings and Agendas

Know This: You can not roll any old way as a Councilor at a Council Meeting. There are rules in place. At a minimum decorum and professionalism should play a roll.

Let's Play a Game

Ask yourself these questions and see if you are correct. The Village ordinances that govern these answers are included. .

And more importantly – ask yourself these questions and see if the Council is behaving correctly.

Q. In what manner is Village business conducted?

A. 2-2-2 B. 1 It is the intent that a meeting be conducted on as informal basis as is practicable to expedite Village business. Business will be conducted generally following good parliamentary procedure at the discretion of the presiding officer.

Know This: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_procedure Parliamentary Procedure means Councilors and Mayors can not roll any old way.

How embarrassing the way some people behave in meetings.

Q. Who runs the meetings? Who recognizes speakers and manages the meetings?

A. 2-1-2 A. Hint - separate powers! Yes! The Mayor!

Q. If a Councilor wants to speak what is the process?

A. 2-2-2 2b. Each Councilor desiring to speak shall address the presiding officer (the Mayor) and, after being recognized, confine himself or herself to debate, avoiding personalities and indecorous language

(Emphasis mine!)

Q. Are interruptions ok? Can a councilor or a Mayor interrupt at will?

A. 2-2-2 2c A Councilor having been recognized shall not be interrupted except to call him or her to order. If called to order, he or she shall cease speaking until the point of order is decided, after which he or she may proceed.

(Emphasis mine!) Know This: Yelling at the Mayor, Interrupting, Screaming "Point of Order" and not stopping the debate are all against our ordinances.

Yes! Really!

How embarrassing for us to have to watch Councilors yell at attorneys when they don't like the answer. (And remember attorneys are paid to keep everyone out of trouble by the way).

Isn't it time Councilors follow their own ordinances? Remember the ordinances are written by Councilors.

Mayor! Please! 2-2-2 B 1. Strict adherence to the following rules will, however, be invoked at the request of any member of the governing body at any time on any or all issues.

AGENDAS and MEETINGS – GET EDUCATED

Let’s Play a Game. Ask yourself these questions and see if you are correct.

And more importantly – ask yourself these questions and see if the Council is behaving correctly. The Village ordinances that govern these answers are included.

**Hint* Refer to previous education about separate powers.*

Q. Who Sets the Agenda in Bosque Farms for Council meetings?

A. The Clerk Administrator along with the Mayor. 2-2-2 A. 4. All reports, communications, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, documents, or other matters to be submitted to the governing body shall be delivered to the Clerk at least nine days prior to each meeting, whereupon the Clerk shall immediately arrange a list of such matters according to the order of business.

Q. Can the Council request to have something on the agenda?

A. Yes. See above. Also 2-2-2 A. 4. Additional items may be added to the agenda by majority consent of the members of the governing body.

KNOW THIS It does not say they MUST be added prior to the meeting. The idea of having a rolling quorum being illegal is still relevant. This means the Council has to be VERY CAREFUL how they "demand" items be on the agenda (their words!)

Q. Is there a set order to the agenda? A. Yes. See 2-2-2 C.

Q. Who works with other governments? A. 2-6-4 D. Coordinates and/or serves as liaison to the public or other agencies in the development and implementation of special programs and projects as assigned by the Mayor. And 2-1-2 B. 3. The Mayor.

Q. What does the Mayor Pro-Tem Do? A. 2-1-3 NOTHING until the Mayor is unable to do his/her job.

KNOW THIS Insisting you be called Mayor Pro-Tem is just grandstanding.

KNOW THIS There is no Mayor Pro-Tem until there is a Mayor Pro-Tem.

Get Educated: This is a Latin phrase pro tempore, meaning for the temporary moment. So until you must stand in as Mayor, you are ONLY a Councilor. Period. Only when the mayor is unavailable are you Mayor Pro-Tem.