Meeting location: Red Lobster Restaurant, 575 S. Telshor Blvd., Las Cruces,
NM
Attending: H.F. (Junior) Adams, Jane Asche, Phil Banks, Gus Bigelow, John P.
Bloom, Paul Borunda, Joyce Cassidy, Rose Garcia, Ron Gurley, Shirley Hall,
Dolores M. Halls, J.M. Kadlecek, Edward E. Lindsay, Bob Lowe, Leroy P. Lozier,
Ron Nesler, Betty Pool, Richard Van Frank, Sue Torres Van Frank, Charlie Welch.
J. M. Kadlecek, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 11:35 AM.
The minutes of the Governing Board Meeting of August 1, 2002 meeting were
unanimously approved.
Gus Bigelow, Vice-Chairperson, presented a draft copy of the Governance Plan
for SNMCC. It is based on the Common Cause New Mexico Governance Plan. Copies of
the CCNM Governance Plan and the draft copy of the SNMCC Governance Plan were
distributed to those in attendance. It was suggested that the Governing Board
study the documents and be prepared to discuss and vote on the Plan at the next
meeting. Mr. Kadlecek thanked Mr. Bigelow for his hard work in developing this
document on behalf of the membership.
Gus Bigelow stated that SNMCC would accept further volunteers for the
Governing Board.
Issue Updates: items identified at the August 1, 2002 meeting requiring
further research.
City Expenditure of Federal Funds: Kadlecek/ Sanchez. J. Kadlecek
reported that they are still in the process of compiling information. C.
Sanchez is organizing the information into a chart. Approximately $2 million
in federal funds are allocated per year. They will continue to work on this
issue and report again next month.
Conflicts of Interest/Codes of Ethics: R. Van Frank. He reported that
there is no set legal definition for the term " Conflicts of Interest".
Situation and circumstance determine "Conflicts of Interest". The city
ordinance is similar to the New Mexico "Conflict of Interest" statute. The
city charter uses the term "deal with" in it’s ethics ordinances which does
not adequately serve to tell a city councilor what conduct is prohibited.
Home Rule Charter: P. Borunda. P. Borunda handed out booklets from the
City of Las Cruces Public Information Office that explains the City of Las
Cruces Charter. He suggested using the talents of SNMCC members to study the
Charter. E-mail will be sent to those on the e-network to see if anyone has
expertise in this area. He will continue to work on this issue and report
again next month.
Campaign Finance Reform Support: J. Kadlecek wrote a letter to the Las
Cruces Sun-News to congratulate them on their coverage of campaign finances.
It was published last week.
Accountability Mapping: Ron Gurley did a presentation on Accountability
Mapping. Accountability Mapping is a technique to look at issues concerning
money/funds. Creating a template of self-inspection helps to identify where
organizations are vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse. Information decreases
bias and discipline helps keep the process open and clear. Mr. Gurley made
some suggestions on how to initiate an Accountability Map, including creation
of a money map and a program map.
There was a discussion about the need to develop a system of monitoring
various public meetings, bringing information back to the membership, and
identifying issues that we could adopt in order to work toward positive
change. A systematic approach helps to establish a presence and add
credibility to SNMCC. Jane Asche agreed to develop a system to monitor public
meetings.
The issue of whether to establish a special committee to monitor Conflicts
of Interest/Codes of Ethics was discussed. It was unanimously decided that no
special standing committee would be established until the need arises. As
individual members discover issues of Conflicts of Interest/Codes of Ethics,
they will bring them back to the group and, as a group, we will decide whether
or not to form a special committee to investigate the particular issue.
It was unanimously decided that the SNMCC Governing Board would meet the
third Wednesday of every month. The next meeting of the Governing Board will
be on September 18, 2002.
