By Hallie Richwine
The Village of Santa Clara Regular Meeting took place Thursday, April 12, 2018 in the Village Hall. Trustees Victor Arambula, Olga Amador, and Harry “Rocky” Hildebrand attended as well as Mayor Richard Bauch. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza was absent.
Bauch reported considering a solar system to be put on top of the senior center. “I like the idea of being able to do that. It can offset electrical costs and money can be put back into the senior center.” He also said three different groups have asked about having events at Fort Bayard. Bauch looks forward to the projects at the cemetery and on South Bellm.
Carlos Torres of Poms and Associates presented to council an opportunity to work with the group for human resources services. Funding for this partnership comes from the self-insured fund, where broker fees are kept aside. If the municipality does not use broker services, the fund keeps the money. One of the key services includes safety training. Poms and Associates currently provides services to all of the public schools in the area, so they are already accessible. A letter naming Poms and Associates as the broker of record will be generated and submitted.
Council also agreed to the acquisition of a new printer for the clerk’s office.
Doug Dinwiddie of the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society approached council about renting office space in the Santa Clara Armory. The group formerly held space at Watts Hall and has been looking for a new office space. The Fort Bayard Museum was an obvious choice, but without electricity or heat it was not the optimal location. As a non-profit, they have limited funds and hoped to negotiate a deal for space in the Armory. The Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society is willing to operate a Visitor’s Center that would educate travelers about Fort Bayard and Santa Clara. These services would be no additional charge for the village, and staffing will be provided.
“I like the idea of a small-scale visitor center,” said Bauch.
Bauch recommended charging the group fifty dollars per office, an arrangement mirroring another rental agreement at the armory.
The next item on the agenda was whether or not Santa Clara joins the joint powers agreement for dispatch services from Grant County. The cost is offset by sales tax in the county, with any remainder being split between Grant County and Silver City. The new agreement would split that remaining cost among all municipalities utilizing the central dispatch authority as well as Western New Mexico University and Gila Regional Medical Center. Once Santa Clara enters the agreement, the village would be responsible for 5% of the remainder of the costs and would not pay until 2020. Council passed the action unanimously.
Next, budget meetings for next year were scheduled. Three public budget meetings must be held before the budget is due. The next budget meeting is Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 3 p.m.
Council also passed resolution 2018-21, the CDBG resolution for procurement policy, residential anti-displacement and relocation plan and certification, section 3 plan, citizen participation plan community development and adopting a fair housing policy. This combination of policies is bundled into one resolution to show Santa Clara is following all federal requirements for the CDBG program.
Bauch then proclaimed May 5, 2018 as Give Grandly Day- Give Local, and April as Fair Housing Month.
Council approved a raise for Jannell Serrano at the recommendation of Judge Andrew Gomez and a raise for Johnny Bauch, at the request of Police Chief Lonnie Sandoval.
The next Regular Meeting of the Village of Santa Clara happens Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 6 p.m. at the Village Hall.