Public Comments

An anonymous teacher wrote:

I cannot be at tonight's meeting so I send you this comment: I would prefer a strong-council, weak-mayor for the new government as the form most amenable to representing the various views and traditions spread out over a wide area. Thank you for including my input.

Lewis and Chris Pell wrote:

My wife and I support l) the current Home Rule proposition; 2) lowering taxes on long-term residents, raising taxes on short-term residents; Thank-you

Memphis Holland wrote:

I. Term limits - all elected officials
1. Currently, there is no statutory regulation on the books for the state.
2. Is the HRC willing to consider this in our locally elected positions?

II. Utilities - Budget and Oversight
1. Why is HRC considering an exemption for a referendum on Utilities?
2. Will HRC consider adding referendum for oversight of Public Works? Currently, Council has oversight on PW with no state authority for a check/balance on services or lack thereof. If our taxes are proportionally paid for Public Works, where is citizen recourse except in civil lawsuits? Seems like a step could be placed between the two.
3. With climate having significant impacts to roads and the sewer system, the upgrades, repairs, and maintenance of services is crucial to have a healthy community.

Based on your draft charter, here are my comments. I will not be making them at the Home Rule Public Meetings but will share with Roundtable.
pg. 2. 6.1. A 6.1.B. clause may be needed to shoulder time between repeal and enacting new legislation in order not to leave certain issues with no legal guidelines that are not implied or expressed in the adopted Charter.
pg. 4, 3. Environmental Protections. Just flagging that this clause needs to be deeper in scope. This may create a problem since Public Works has gaps in private/public roads, maintenance of sewer lines, commercial facilities impaired by improper maintenance with no town enforcement, etc.
pg. 5. Article III. 1.2. Where is the definition of how citizens challenge either the establishment, adoption or abolishment of any zone map amendment, expenditure - i.e., salaries, cars, etc. that further creates a gap between citizens and government employees?
pg. 7. 8. Results of an Election. Deepen scope of Section. (see links below) 8.1. A valid election should require more than 20% qualified electors. Taos historically has a higher average. 25% seems like this would create pressure to maintain a strong Election Board and system.
pg. 10. Article IV Elections. 3.1. Add: Town Clerk. Regarding Financing, see link below.
https://santafenm.gov/archive_center/document/4519
pg. 12. Article V. Mayor. 1.1.e-g, i - eliminate these powers.
pg. 13. 3.1. Term limits?
pg. 14. 2.3. Every four years is too long given inflation cycles. Suggestion - link to annual audit if a % over CPI, will be re-evaluated. This is consistent with pg. 5. 7.
pg. 14. 4.1. Term limits?
pg. 15. 5.2. Explicitly state to Include Recordings, as in State of NM Open Meetings Act.
pg. 15. 5.4. 4/5th members. Not just present but positions that must be filled before any action may be taken.
pg. 16. 6.1. (6). Only by Referendum can rates be changed for public utilities. Public Works has no check or balance except at the local council. I hear repeatedly that citizens are fed up with paying town taxes but have no recourse for private roads (no disclosure prior to purchase of property because this is not required by law. If problems arise, the State has no jurisdiction and the Office of the State Engineer only manages environmental contaminants. We need to bring the power of the purse to the citizens.
pg. 17. 4.1. Term limits
pg. 18. 7.1. refer to pg. 14. 2.3. - tied to annual audit and % over CPI.
pg. 18. 1.1. Town Manager shall be appointed by Council, not the Mayor.
pg. 19. 3.1. Removal by Council - 4/5th vote, not Mayor.
pg. 19. 2. Before enacting this, have someone reach out to Smith's and Albertsons to ensure they are onboard or how you can get them to be onboard. They do have Buy Local campaigns. The problem is the spoilage that comes from lack of plastic packaging and other preservation. tools. Will they be compensated for this?
pg. 20. 5. Seems fair and high. Tie to the number of employees in a store. Most small businesses will not be able to do this without a tax incentive. Circles back to Finance.
pg. 20. 7. Lofty goal but without a real Housing Director, Zoning Administrator with enforcement powers, an active development community with good tax credits at state and federal levels, this will bring in large scale developers who will milk the community and not provide the housing that is in keeping with your page 4. 4. Cultural Preservation. We need to maintain architectural integrity and provide affordable housing. Both can be achieved but must be a comprehensive plan.
pg. 20. 9. Taxes are already too high for citizens to pay. Brings up another issue with property tax tied to appraised value. To keep people in their homes, we need a comprehensive plan to lower the effective tax rate for long-term residents (not rental units) and raise the tax on short-term rentals. IMO.

GOVERNANCE - needs much more detail:

Town Clerk - elected or appointed. In reviewing other Home Rule Charters, given the magnitude of the responsibility on the Town Clerk, my vote is the position is Elected.
Town Manager - Appointed by Council.
Board of Elections - how to encourage participation.
Transparency Guidelines.
https://www.taosnews.com/news/politics/primary-turnout-in-nm-is-down-experts-explain-why/article_a9ae3f52-f975-5e45-aa5b-406445ba91df.html
https://www.taoscounty.org/175/Bureau-of-Elections

-Memphis