Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of the Governing Body for the Village of Cloudcroft, held on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., in the Village Council Chambers, 201 Burro Avenue, Cloudcroft, NM.
CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Denney called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM with the following Council members providing a full Quorum: Present/Absent:
Mayor William Denney – present
Trustee / Mayor Pro-Tem Maynard – present via video chat
Trustee – Gail McCoy – present
Trustee – George Mitchell – present
Trustee – Grover Sterling – present
The following Village staff and guests were present: Shaela Hemphill; Deputy Clerk, Kevin Summers; Chief of Police, Vyanca Vega; Project Coordinator, Laura Robertson; Court Clerk, Debra Spears; Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Beach, Ken Brown; CVFD/EMS, Loran Repp, Laura & Karl Campbell; Cabins at Cloudcroft, Lance Wright; Cloudcroft Schools, Adrienne West, Luis Gallegos, Dana Dunlap, Linda Meyer, Terri Munson, Vincent Turner, Vernon Sperberg, Angela Daniel, Linda Hamilton, Rachel Truex, Chris Hearne, Cindy Presler, Jubal Hall, Cori & David Abel, Barbara & Gilbert Garcia, Kristi Flak, Rebecca Melendez-Turner; Michael Nivison Public Library, Julie Johnson; Michael Nivison Public Library, Martin Menzel; Cloud Dogs, Heidi Taylor, Debbie Tate, Aaron Haeker, Hannah Dean, Eric & Roberta Haeker, Richard Welch, Andrew Bluth; Singleton/Schreiber, Malin Parker; Singleton/Schreiber, Kevin Tharp; Pickleball, Tana Daugherty; Cloudcroft Schools, and Judy Siebanaler.
Pledge of Allegiance
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Salute to the Flag of New Mexico
“I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico, the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures.”
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Trustee McCoy made a motion to approve the agenda of the September 12, 2023, Regular Council Meeting as presented. Trustee Mitchell seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Sterling, for; Trustee Mitchell, for. Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Work Session of GB on August 4, 2023, Regular Meeting of GB on August 8, 2023, Work Session of GB on August 22, 2023, and Special Meeting of GB on August 25, 2023
Trustee Mitchell motioned to approve all minutes as written. Trustee Sterling seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for; Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Sterling, for; Trustee Mitchell, for. Motion carried unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/OPEN DISCUSSION:
Debra Spears; Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce – Requested update on directional signage for Burro Avenue they are wishing to place on Cloudcroft Truck & Auto’s property.
Kevin Tharp; Pickleball Players– Requested update on the pickleball court project.
Linda Meyer – Requested information regarding fire hydrants that are currently bagged up and information from the Cloudcroft Police Department regarding how many calls they take, how many of those are with reports, and their response time. Chief of Police, Kevin Summers, stated the response time is within fifteen (15) minutes and the calls that require reports vary depending on the nature of the call.
Judy Siebanaler – Requested evacuation signage throughout the Village in the event of a fire.
MAYORS REPORT:
Mayor Denney announced that Trustee Maynard was elected as a Trustee at Large with the New Mexico Municipal League. Mayor Denney also announced and congratulated Randy Summers (son of Chief of Police Summers) and Scotty Courvoisier (son of Water Operator Tony Courvoisier) for passing their BAR exams.
REPORTS:
Trustee Mitchell made a motion to approve the reports as presented. Trustee Sterling seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Mitchell, for; Trustee Sterling, for. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Inform Village Council & Community about Cloudcroft Municipal Schools Capital Improvement Act (SB-9) that will be on the November 7, 2023, ballot – Tana Daugherty & Cindy Preslar
Tana Daugherty, Cindy Preslar, and Lance Wright presented information about the two-mill levy to the public that will be present on the November 7th ballot.
PFAS Chemical Effects on Water & Possible Remediation of the Consequences of PFAS Contamination – Singleton Schreiber; Paul Starita, Brandy Pino, & Malin Parker
Information regarding PFAS was presented to the Council for a class action lawsuit that has been filed for PFAS in water systems.
Food Trucks – Pavla Trubac
Ms. Trubac contacted the Village Office prior to the meeting and stated that she would be unable to attend the meeting and that we could remove her agenda item. Mayor Denney stated we still had an active survey out regarding this matter and were awaiting those submissions.
Recommendation for Pay Increase for Library Aide, Rebecca Melendez-Turner – Julie Johnson
No motion/No action.
Confirmation of Planning & Zoning Clerk with pay increase – Vyanca Vega
Trustee Mitchell made a motion to confirm Vyanca Vega as planning & zoning clerk with a $2.00 an hour pay increase. Motion died due to lack of second.
Trustee Maynard made a motion to confirm Vyanca Vega as planning & zoning clerk with the possibility of a pay raise pending a budget review. Trustee McCoy seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Mitchell, for; Trustee Sterling, for. Motion carried unanimously.
Confirmation of New Hire Crystal Menezes – Utility Billing Clerk
Trustee Mitchell made a motion to approve the hiring of Crystal Menezes. Trustee Sterling seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Sterling, for; Trustee Mitchell, for. Motion carried unanimously.
Confirmation of New Hire Laura Robertson – Court Clerk
Trustee Sterling made a motion to approve the hiring of Laura Robertson. Trustee Mitchell seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Sterling, for; Trustee Mitchell, for. Motion carried unanimously.
Confirmation of Appointment to Planning & Zoning Commission – David Abel
Trustee Maynard made a motion to confirm the appointment of David Abel to the Planning & Zoning Commissioner. Trustee McCoy seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Sterling, for; Trustee Mitchell, for. Motion carried unanimously.
Special Use Permit – Fernando’s Burritos – P&Z Chair Tabitha Foster
Trustee Mitchell made a motion to approve the Special Use Permit for Fernando’s Burritos. Trustee Sterling seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Sterling, for; Trustee Mitchell, for. Motion carried unanimously.
Appoint/Reappoint Library Board Members
Trustee Mitchell made a motion to reappoint Hannah Dean and Joan Nussbaum to the Library Board. Trustee Sterling seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Sterling, for; Trustee Mitchell, for. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution No. 2023.14 Final Budget Approval FY 23.24
Trustee Maynard made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2023.14. Trustee McCoy seconded. With no further discussion a roll call vote was taken:
Trustee McCoy – Aye
Trustee Maynard – Aye
Trustee Mitchell – Aye
Trustee Sterling – Aye
For a unanimous roll call vote.
Resolution No. 2023.15 & Grant Agreement SAP 23-H4166-GFR
Trustee Maynard made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2023.15. Trustee Sterling seconded. With no further discussion a roll call vote was taken:
Trustee McCoy – Aye
Trustee Maynard – Aye
Trustee Mitchell – Aye
Trustee Sterling – Aye
For a unanimous roll call vote.
Resolution No. 2023.16 & Grant Agreement SAP 23-H4167-GFR
Trustee Sterling made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2023.16. Trustee Mitchell seconded. With no further discussion a roll call vote was taken:
Trustee McCoy – Aye
Trustee Maynard – Aye
Trustee Mitchell – Aye
Trustee Sterling – Aye
For a unanimous roll call vote.
Resolution No. 2023.17 Reassignment of Village Clerk Duties to Chief Deputy Clerk
Trustee Mitchell made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2023.17. Trustee McCoy seconded. With no further discussion a roll call vote was taken:
Trustee McCoy – Aye
Trustee Maynard – Aye
Trustee Mitchell – Aye
Trustee Sterling – Aye
For a unanimous roll call vote.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Real Property and Water Rights NMSA 10-15-1 (8) – 507 Columbine
Judy Siebanaler requested the property in question be sold to her for the amount of $2,665.
Trustee Mitchell motioned to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Real Property and Water Rights regarding 507 Columbine. Trustee McCoy seconded. With no further discussion a roll call vote was taken:
Trustee McCoy – Aye
Trustee Maynard – Aye
Trustee Mitchell – Aye
Trustee Sterling – Aye
For a unanimous roll call vote Council recessed into closed session at 7:24 p.m.
RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION:
Trustee Mitchell made a motion to reconvene into Open Session. Trustee McCoy seconded. With no further discussion a roll call vote was taken:
Trustee McCoy – Aye
Trustee Maynard – Aye
Trustee Mitchell – Aye
Trustee Sterling – Aye
For a unanimous roll call vote Council reconvened into Open Session at 7:36 p.m.
Real Property and Water Rights NMSA 10-15-1 (8) – 507 Columbine
Trustee Sterling made a motion to maintain the selling amount of the property at $5,665. Trustee Mitchell seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Sterling, for; Trustee Mitchell, for.
Motion carried unanimously.
STATEMENT OF REVENUES & EXPENDITURES:
August 2023 to date expenditures. Trustee Mitchell made a motion to acknowledge the revenues and expenditures for August 2023. Trustee Sterling seconded. Vote as follows: Trustee Maynard, for, Trustee McCoy, for; Trustee Sterling, for; Trustee Mitchell, for. Motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN:
Trustee Mitchell made a motion to adjourn the Regular Council Meeting of September 12, 2023. Trustee Sterling seconded. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
