By Roger Lanse
Silver City Police Chief Freddy Portillo reported at the Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, meeting of the Silver City Town Council, that the department is being more creative in how they can impact those areas in town that are experiencing illegal drug activity. Portillo stated the department is already working with other agencies, including the Drug Task Force. “It’s going to take some time, but we do have the ball rolling and we’re working on it. I understand the hesitation to come forward but that’s how we’re going to resolve these issues is by working with the public. And, that what our drive is -- to gain that public trust.
“You don’t always have to report to Central Dispatch,” Portillo continued. “You can always call down to the SCPD at 575-538-3723, and you can remain anonymous. They’re not recorded lines. So, there’s one avenue you can take if you’d like instead of calling Central Dispatch. Central Dispatch’s number is 575-388-8840. But, you can always contact an officer personally, if you know them, to give this information. Tips are really, really critical to solving these problems.”
Council approved an ordinance amending certain articles and sections of Chapter 2 of the town’s municipal code. Town Attorney Robert Scavron explained, “In the last session of the legislature effective July 1, was a piece of legislation called the Local Election Act. When that was enacted, it repealed legislation called the Municipal Election Code. It was that state municipal election code that was the code the town had adopted for its election code.
“So, with the demise of the municipal election code,” Scavron went on, “The town under its charter has the power to create, or adopt, its own election code. So, what we are proposing is that the town adopt the local election code which was part of the Local Election Act. We’ve made certain changes in it that would have the Local Election Act be harmonious with the time-honored precedents set by the town’s elections for the past decades. This is a good attempt at marrying the traditions of the town with the Local Election Act. The public will see no difference in elections from year to year.”
Council approved two public celebration permit applications for the Annual Friends of Power and Light Press Holiday Market on Dec. 6, at 601 N. Bullard Street, with alcohol service from 4-9:30 p.m.
A Notice of Intent Ordinance, amending the town’s municipal code, in reference to Chapter 50 (Uniform Traffic Code), was approved. The new state Uniform Traffic Code lowered fines for most, if not all, traffic violations. The amendment keeps those fines in Silver City as they were in 2017.
District 2 Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith reported that the MainStreet Volunteer Team determined through their downtown building occupancy count that the occupancy rate has gone up. “So, we’re happy about that,” she said.
District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison reminded residents who see hazardous medical waste within the town can call the town manager’s office and someone will be out to pick up the waste. The town manager needs accurate locations of where the waste is and pick up only applies to hazardous medical waste, she stated.
District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano stated the second annual Outdoor Economic Conference will be held in Silver City in 2019, on Oct. 3-4. Cano said the conference is a partnership between the Town of Silver City, Grant County, Silver City MainStreet Project, Chamber of Commerce, and Western New Mexico University, working together with the New Mexico Wildlife Alliance. The hope is to bring several hundred people together to discuss how to protect public lands in New Mexico, Cano said.
District 3 Councilor Jose Ray Jr. thanked Chief Portillo and Town Manager Alex Brown for allowing side-by-sides in the lighted parade next month. He also said that three flags will be soon flying at La Capilla, United States, New Mexico, and POW.
One person spoke during public input encouraging council to reconsider allowing side-by-sides on town streets.
Mayor Ken Ladner appointed Pauline Gomez to the Municipal Museum Community Advisory Group.
Portillo told the Beat that SCPD’s policy is for staff to sport no more facial hair than a mustache. However, to earn more money for the department’s Koats for Kids program, staff members and officers between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15, may opt not to shave. However, if they do enter the No-Shave group, they must contribute $30 to the KforK program.