The Mayor and Manager’s Movidas
Local government: watching the County, learn about the Town
When Taos County Commissioners meet today, Oct. 6, 2015, the agenda includes a number of “nuts and bolts” issues, which are standard, the usual stuff, including recognition of employees. But the agenda also includes a couple of items that speak to the Town of Taos, including an item suggesting the Town and County might meet later in the month to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Recently, the County “put off” voting for a 1/12th GRT tax that would be used to fund roads. Apparently one of the Town Councilors asked the Commissioners to delay the vote. The County, as everyone knows needs the dough. We’re not sure why the Town, which muddles its own business, wants to interfere in the County’s.
The County will also discuss a request from a representative of the Farmer’s Market for weekly space in the County Complex parking lot next year. Since the Farmer’s Market started out years ago in that very location, the new and improved access and large parking lot seems like a natural. The proposal kills two birds with one stone: relieves traffic congestion on the Plaza and resolves a thorny controversy between the Mayor, Manager, and the merchants.
One could envision keeping enough farmers inside the central park to continue the buzz but allow the Plaza to remain open for traffic on Saturdays. Meanwhile the heavy-duty produce haulers could find relief in parking and off-loading their trucks at the Complex. If the Farmers Market wants to expand, the territory at the County is as big as all outdoors.
On Thursday, Oct. 8, the Town is holding a rare 9 am “special meeting.” Indeed the mayor is presenting the Council with a “consent agenda,” one vote, yea or nay at the “Executive Conference Room, 400 Camino de la Placita.” The time and place, as well as the “consent agenda,” indicate a “movida,” prepared by the Mayor and Manager to avoid controversy and evade public response or council discussion. Among the nuts and bolts issues are contracts for paving and refurbishing the Youth and Family Center.
But three issues caught my attention:
1) an MOU with Angel Fire for “Building Permits and Inspection Services,” 2) the conversion of Martyr’s Lane to a one way street,” and 3) the removal of some parking places on Civic Plaza Drive in the interests of bike lanes.
No. 3, the creation of bike lanes on Civic Plaza Drive, a safe and slow street traffic wise, seems like an effort to curry favor for photo ops and publicity but has little to do with lanes for bikes since it doesn’t connect with other bike lanes. More parking spots for the Historic District will disappear but to what end? It’s like closing the Plaza and claiming “safety concerns” when, historically, records indicate a lack of accidents.
No. 2, the conversion of Martyr’s Lane confirms the current practice: I have never driven west, but I don’t know what Dennis Cocoa thinks, given his high end restaurant and the current congestion on downtown streets. It sounds sensible but one doesn’t know what the “unintended consequences” are, given the muddled thinking of the current administration.
No. 3, an MOU with Angel Fire re: inspections and permits makes no sense at all. Bellis’s claims about the expense of hiring code enforcement and building officials contradicts the practice of other communities and the County. Why can’t he make a deal with the County, as he claimed, he would? Even if they don’t like him over there, I’m sure Fambro and Blankenhorn, both of whom represent those affected, would listen at the “joint meeting.” After all, Bellis, while at the County, hired former Town Employees to work in the planning department. They know the community backwards and forwards.
One must ask why Barrone and Bellis are out-sourcing community jobs and tax revenues? Not only is the town responsible for the “brain drain” but they seem skittish about hiring locals, not only newcomers of 13 years, but also Taos Natives. Compared to the County, the Town of Taos is becoming a foreign country. A hostile work environment at the Town, allegedly, pushed out four or five Town employees from the Public Works, who have fled to…Angel Fire. But none of them were building department officials. They were nuts and bolts guys from the Water and Sanitation Departments, etc.
What gives with this hostile attitude toward locals? It’s the same attitude the mayor and manager present to merchants on the Plaza. Where are Fred, Judi, and Andrew? Or have they given up?