Hurley and Bayard to help each other

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley had a regular meeting September 8, 2026. Reynaldo Maynes, Ester Gil, and Robert Candelaria attended. Jason Cox did not attend . Aron Phillips attended later in the meeting.

Public input

Archi Padilla said she knew they would be voting on the resolution for the TNR (trap neuter release) implementation plan. Southwest New Mexico Borderland Animal Rescue Coalition (BARC) had submitted a plan to the council, and it would be in their hands. However, they would continue to do what they had been doing. By implementing the resolution, the town will know everything they would be doing.

Arlene Lucero wanted to add to what Padilla had said. They started BARC two years earlier and the coalition part of the name had been purposeful because the philosophy of the organization has been to work with other people to bring people together. This resolution will be for the benefit of the town and make them formal partners.

Dolores Charon came to provide a presentation on domestic violence. October will be domestic violence awareness month, and they have been painting the town purple in honor of this each year by putting up ribbons, having trainings, etc. On October 1, 2026, they will have an event at the Woman's Club and she invited everyone to attend. Domestic violence hits every town and has continued to become worse. She asked the town to help as they had in previous years. Maynes asked her to leave the information on what she needed and the next meeting they would do a proclamation.

The council approved the consideration of an agreement with Bayard for the temporary use of Hurley's animal shelter. Bayard Police Chief Hector Carrillo had come to address the council about a temporary agreement for the use of the facility while Bayard's shelter undergoes construction upgrades. Currently they have six dogs, and Bayard would be responsible for the cleaning of the shelter and care for the animals. He thought it would only be for two or three months. Hurley's attorney had looked at it and approved it.

Carrillo had also come to present a plan for law enforcement services. Bayard would provide service to Hurley. He had presented them with a MOU (memorandum of understanding). Bayard will be able to expand its law enforcement services while creating a practical partnership with Hurley. It would include officers, supervision, scheduling, training, equipment and day-to-day operations. This agreement provides an additional source of revenue through the administrative and patrol fees outlined in the agreement. Bayard would invoice Hurley for agreed upon costs rather than Bayard taxpayers paying the cost of providing service to another municipality. The two clerks had met last month and worked out a plan that would benefit Hurley and be invoiced for those services.

The agreement would provide Hurley with predicable and transparent costs while allowing its elected officials to focus on overall operations. Hurley would not have to independently operate and administer a police department, and they would be able to share resources, reduce duplication, improve law enforcement coverage and have a stronger police presence, without having to maintain separate administrative structures. "Bottom line, Bayard gains an opportunity to strengthen its police department and generate additional revenue, while Hurley receives professional law enforcement services without having to manage the department itself." Carrillo understood the Hurley attorney would need to review the MOU. Hurley has a budget to employ four police officers and Carrillo said he would only be requiring three and use the last position for administrative fees and they will not be incurring any extra for police protection or services.

Carrillo provided the documents to the council and went over some of the points and how he would find officers to take the positions to provide the services. His plan would actually save the town of Hurley $30,492 for this year. That savings could be utilized for overtime if needed and continued to point out the many benefits of the MOU and how he thought it would benefit both Bayard and Hurley.

Maynes asked if the MOU he presented would be set in stone and Carrillo said absolutely not and all would be up for discussion. It has not been formally presented to the Bayard council, but they have been made aware. "This is just the beginning phase." Maynes said it would be like a pilot program. It could be renewed annually and be terminated within 60 days. Carrillo said currently Bayard and Hurley have an MOU for providing service to each other to help with calls.

Maynes asked how the law enforcement funds the town currently receives would work. Carrillo said those funds would continue and stay in Hurley. He would have to work with the clerk on that budget for the three officers. Hurley would continue with the court clerk and citations issued in Hurley would stay with Hurley. He wanted a good three years to build the department in Hurley and had already had some interest. Carrillo would provide the council with a monthly report on what had happened in Hurley. The discussion continued on what it would look like.

Hurley has one officer and would need to hire two more to provide the services Carrillo had offered. The conversation continued on policies, procedures and training. Currently they align because they have been using the same organization to bring them up to code and could easily have them completely align.

Carrillo also hoped at some point they could bring in Santa Clara. "We need a tri -ity agreement, and we need to take care of ourselves." He had a vision of eventually having detectives. He wanted to recruit locally and knew he had interest and what attracted them has been trying to think outside the box. Currently Bayard has a $2,000 sign on bonus with a two-year commitment. He said all interviews for Hurley would include a designated council person to come sit in.

Maynes wanted this information to be put out there because he wanted the input of the residents.

The council approved resolution no. 10-2026/2027, supporting the TNR (trap neuter release) program to humanely control the population of feral cats in the community. Darlene McBride, town clerk, said they had made sure the resolution matched the ordinance. This would allow BARC to take on the registration process and allow the town to better have a representation of the community and how to control the population. Because of it being a resolution if something does not work out, they can always amend it. The attorney had researched other communities and how they had handled it using the same format. Maynes said the ordinance allows TNR and this resolution allows for someone to come in with a plan and provides protection for the town. Maynes said Hurley would be the first in the county to pass this.

The council approved resolution no. 11-2026/2027 ratifying an agreement with Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments. McBride said this was  just the  annual agreement they do and added how much help they had been in the efforts to obtain grants and funding for the town.

The council approved resolution no. 12-2026/2027 to participate in the capital outlay program administered through the New Mexico Department of Transportation. McBride said this would allow them to complete the sidewalks and drainage on E Street from 5th Street. They had not had enough to finish the project for a long time, and with some others this would allow them to finish.

The council approved the hire of Thomas Murillo for animal control officer pending a background check. Two people had applied. Murrillo would also serve as code enforcement.

The council approved the hire of Javier Sanchez for maintenance laborer. He has a lot of experience in mechanics and specifically diesel mechanics.

The council approved for the interim police chief to attend New Mexico property and evidence conference and another training for street crimes with real world training for real world police.

The council postponed the purchase of a Ford Expedition police unit and equipping of the vehicle, until the proposed MOU presented by Carrillo had been decided on.

The council approved the consent agenda that included regular meeting minutes August 11, 2026, and department head reports.

Mayor and council reports

Phillips apologized for being late because he thought the meeting would be happening next week. He had to wait for parents to pick up their kids from athletic practice.

Gill did not have anything to report currently.

Candelaria did not have anything to report currently.

Maynes wanted to clarify the library has still been open but run by volunteers. They felt the funds had not been utilized and with solid waste costs increasing it could be better utilized for the residents.

The next regular meeting will be October 13, 2026, at 5:00 pm

Meeting adjourned.