El Mitote

Here’s an agenda item for the County Commissioner’s regular meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 23.

Personnel Matters- Discussion, consideration, and decisions regarding the following: (Executive and Public Session) Informational Items/Action Items/Discussion, Consideration and Decisions Regarding Candidates for Taos County Manager Position. This Item may be Discussed in Closed Session under Open Meetings Act Exemption 10-15-1(H)(2), which allows for Discussion of Limited Personnel Matters

At the Town of Taos regular meeting on the same Tuesday next, councilors will discuss cost-cutting measures related to personnel re-organization. The Town Council may be getting cold feet on cutting costs after ordering Manager Miera to do the dirty work. And Mr. Miera may be having second thoughts about his bosses.

Will the county extend the period for county manager applications so Young Miera can apply?

Flavio, who works part time at the county’s “Catch and Release” detention facility, says county commissioners approached the Town’s wunderkind manager with an offer he couldn’t refuse. Insiders say Young Daniel Miera may be looking at a raise in pay and long-term contract–if he accepts the county job. And why not? “The County job is way more exciting than the Town,” says Flavio…”And the variety of people way more interesting.”

Think of the challenges: The new 135,000 square foot “Complex” is apparently under-budgeted and will be chronically understaffed. Potholes on county roads are paved with good intentions but rarely asphalt. The unending E911 mapping program could keep three county managers busy as it has staff for 20 years. Young Daniel’s contract might include a clause mandating an occasional shift in Brother Willie’s lock-up. As you know, untrained or recalcitrant guards favor the compassionate approach, reducing court-ordered sentences or claims on inmate freedom with a simple turn of the key or push of the button.

“Sorry Bro, my ass. Check yourself out. I’ve got to finish reading my text messages.”

If Miera plays out his option and signs with the County, the Town will have to bring in Abigail–up from the minors–or seek out another big hitter, perhaps everyone’s favorite former Conventionist, “Don Trujillo.” Under the Don’s guidance, Secretary of State, Mary Herrera became the first Demo to lose the job in 80 years. And how did the Keystone folks love The Don?

If the wattage at the Coop gets much hotter, CEO Reyes may consider his options. He has allegedly led the Trustees down the garden path to the tune of some $25 million in the last decade—Loss of $6 million in Capital credits, Propane ($5 million) and Internet ($2 million), millions (10?)in cost-overruns for electric infrastructure, including bungled negotiations with Picuris for the 69 KW line to Penasco and wildly optimistic 69 KW expansion for Brother Art Rodarte’s high-powered district in Ojo, as well as un-bid contracts and cost-over-runs (what change orders?) at Taos Pueblo—not to mention travel vouchers for trustees and the Homeland Security–Command Center ($3 million). The Coop should be able to double that amount with the huge Broadband $19 million obligation.  Luis might just find a friend in Darren and the two of them together could work out their “economies of scale” under the guidance of Bobby’s boss, the mysterious downtown Puppet Master, whose local financial institution benefits from the cash flow.

My personal favorite for Town Manager is the gas and PETA picket man, Jeff Northrup, the Town Crier. Paul can dress Jeff up for success like he did the Honorable Jerome. Let the critic take over and take a shot at keeping the fireworks away from the kids on the Mayor’s front yard during the 4th of July—and do some cost cutting, too. Soon, very soon, we hear the Mayor and his side kick Rudy will be doing their best to get Jeff locked up on a bogus trespassing charge. (Meanwhile the TPD super cops run free, busting (allegedly) an arm on a female arrestee (or head) when they aren’t tasing the handcuffed, faced-down drunk and gravity-challenged party girl.)

We are all Americans here—even if some residents have more rights than others—like members of the Coop from Penasco.

In TMS news, apparently El Weston sat in the back so disarmingly at a recent meeting of activist parents of kids with Special Needs. Parents, teachers, and state officials may have thought they were speaking freely but the spies from CRAB Hall were there. According to testimony, the schools are running rough shod over the most vulnerable students—bullying parents at IEP conferences with TMS paid attorneys–while diverting special ed funding to the general fund to balance the books and keep the school afloat.

But don’t blame school administrators for they know not what they do. According to the latest audit, on a page detailing “Impact Aid Special Education Special Revenue Fund,” it says, “management should implement immediate steps to provide adequate financial reports to allow for proper and timely monitoring of line item expenditures” (my itals). Indeed. Who’s on first, second, and third? No se, mis amigos. In the virtual world of CRAB Hall, internal controls are an offbeat notion—something radical and foreign. “We don’t need no stinkin’ controls”