[Anyone] TIME TO COMMUNICATE with the TOWN - We are not pleased (fwd)

[Thos Myers]

Hello Taosenos!

Generally, I send info on the airport.  This is a community awareness/inform- ation/correspondence account intent to keep our community informed and share information with our Neighborhood associations and other activist-oriented groups/organizations, coalitions in the greater Taos area, along with our part-time or long-distance Taosenos-at-heart out of state.

This is really about creating dialogue, asking our Town officials that how they are working is not healthy and productive.   I am appreciative of Councilour Darren Cordova's putting it out to the Town, and TO US.  Let's respond, let's ask for accountability.

If we are to effect change, it is about taking action.  It is about participation, about being INFORMED, about committing to LISTEN to what is ongoing in our community, to stop complaining, to put forth positive action, even if it is only being AWARE, LISTENING, ATTENDING a few events, meetings, SUPPORTING the people and organizations that are committing larger levels of time and organizing so that measures of PROGRESS go forward.

WE ARE OUR COMMUNITY.  Do we want to have ALL our elected officials be ACCOUNTABLE?  Then we need to INFORM them when they really show dysfunctional behaviour and actions.  Pick up the phone after you READ DARREN CORDOVA'S LETTER and CALL Mayor Duran, Erlinda Gonzales,
Meliton Struck (read below who to call to leave him a MSG), Rudy Abeyta,
Darren Cordova, AND TOMAS BENAVIDEZ, the SIX FIGURE DOLLAR MAN
of STATUS QUO STAGNATION.

Tomas' lack of accountability is a DIRECT reflection on our TOWN'S GOV'T.
This is NOT HOW we ADVANCE our community to develop sustainable economic development.   This is an example of UTTER DYSFUNCTION.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN SHARING THIS WITH OTHERS in our community.  Let's pick up the phone, let's email people.   I will ask any of you in contact with these people to supply emails so we can let them know, and also phone calls.  The same goes with our county commissioners, KEEP the informed about what is working and what is sorely floundering.

I recently spoke with our Town Councilour Darren Cordova.   He is very OPEN to HEARING (in person/email/phone calls) from the residents of this community.
PLEASE start contacting him.   I've asked him which contact #s & if we can
email him directly, so I hope to have an answer tomorrow & will send out.  If you're at the Town offices, they have business cards on all the councilours, I
believe ONLY Meliton Struck is UNPUBLISHED and you must call the Executive Dept - Renae Lucero's office to leave messages.  He also does not use email.
I phoned him Monday & it is past the close of the business day on Wed, 1/31/07,
so I may be WAITING for a LONG period of time.  Darren owns DMC - the broadcasting center for Taos area radio stations.



(this letter is located at this URL & is the fifth subheading, A Written Record):
http://www.taosdaily.com/index.php?fuseaction=home.viewarticle&article_id=1701


Taos Mayor Wins Battle of Las Movidas

 Benavidez Remains, Trujillo Reassigned, Baker Boots Self
Power Struggle Continues
January 26, 2007

 A Written Record

 By Darren Cordova

 After approximately one year since I was elected the council has aggressively moved forward and approved many initiatives that would significantly improve the level of service to our community and initiatives that would ultimately improve the quality of life for all Taosenos. A few of these initiatives include:

 A public information officer position which would establish a refreshing and much needed new form of open government within the Town of Taos.

 The council last spring approved funding this position. Today we still are at ground zero with this initiative.

 Based on the Investing in our Future report by Mr. Horacio Trujillo (which came out late last spring), the council approved funding to establish a Community and Economic Department so that the Town of Taos can aggressively address community and economic challenges in our community. Today we still are at ground zero with this initiative

 Soon after being elected, I concurred along with my fellow councilors that our town manager was overwhelmed by his workload. Our town manager was directed by the council to fill the assistant manager's position as soon as possible so that he may be more accessible and give the needed attention to address key issues in the town. Today we still are at ground zero with this initiative.

 During the last two municipal elections one of the issues that were brought up was our youth, and how do we include them in our decision-making. This clearly is a no-brainer. I think we all agree that we should have a non-voting member of our youth sit on the council to give us information and ideas on issues that affect our youth. Upon being elected, the council directed our town manager to move forward with this as soon as possible. I know that Councilor Gonzales has also supported this initiative even before I was elected. It is ridiculous that after two elections and three years since the 2004 election we are still once again, at ground zero with this initiative.

 Last summer, I encouraged our town manager to draft into ordinance an evaluation process of the town manager. This would require this council and all future councils to evaluate the performance of their town manager. An evaluation process is crucial to any organization wanting to improve weaknesses, enhance strengths and a tool to measure progress and short falls of goals set forth by council. While this was not an agenda item, it clearly appeared that this was the consensus of the council. Today we are again at ground zero with this initiative.

 After one year in office, I have learned from other public servants and elected officials that in order to be effective, you must have the skill to lobby and communicate with your fellow councilors to gain support on various issues. I believe that this is very true.

 However, in all the cases I have mentioned, no lobbying was needed since these are very common sense issues. In fact, the council either by vote or consensus unanimously directed our town manager to follow through. Many times, our council is criticized for not moving forward on many items. I believe that everyone sitting on the council has the best intentions for our community. Although we may not always agree on certain issues, we have voted unanimously on many issues including the important examples I have stated.

 When I was elected to serve the citizens of Taos, I pledged to you, Mr. Mayor, and fellow counselors that I would work diligently with respect and commitment so that we as a council can work in harmony to insure the best level of service to our constituents and the future of Taos.

 Unfortunately, while I believe the council has strived to head in the right direction, our town manager has failed to work in harmony with the council.

 Whether the council votes unanimously or divided, a town manager, despite his personal opinion, must implement the policies and initiatives set forth by the council.

 We are facing many crucial and challenging issues; it is imperative that we as a council have a town manager who does not disregard the governing body he works for.

 Today, we face a very crucial challenging issue. Our town manager works for this governing body, not the other way around.

 In fact, the chain of command begins with our bosses, the citizens of the Town of Taos. I feel it would be irresponsible for us as elected officials to disregard the poor performance of our town manager.

 Mr. Mayor, fellow council members, due to continued disregard to council direction as stated in my examples earlier, amongst many other serious issues at town hall, I make a motion that we relieve our town manager of his duties effective immediately.

 Since my motion did not pass, I would like to make another motion directing our town attorney to draft into ordinance an evaluation process for our town manager to be presented at our February meeting. This process would include establishing benchmarks and goals, and an upward assessment with department heads to address and improve department head-to-manager relations. The first evaluation should be in six months and every year thereafter or as deemed necessary by council. This evaluation process will ensure that we are on the right track to improving our executive department.

 Mr. Mayor, I would like to make one final motion. Since it appears that there are at least two council members who have concerns with our town manager, in order to regain the level of trust with our town manager, I move that we decrease the dollar amount of contract-signing authority for our town manager and mayor from $20,000 to $5,000.

---------------------------------

NOW, do you honestly FEEL that Tomas deserves A RAISE?  Do you FEEL
Patricia Trujillo (deposed of her Human Resource directorship) deserves to
KEEP the same salary and be situated wherever Tomas thinks she should be
situated?   When someone is sorely unaccountable & indept auditors arrived at
some results to indicate this, WHY should SHE KEEP HER CURRENT SALARY?

WHAT  IS THIS ABOUT?  REWARDING INEFFECTIVENESS?  CALL our
Town Gov't - we need answers - remember - Meliton Struck & Erlinda Gonzales
are UP for election in early 2008.   SO 2007 is going to WEIGH HEAVY on their
chances.  LET THEM KNOW rewarding ineffectiveness IS NOT GOOD CAMPAIGN FODDER.





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