Farmington City Council will hear presentation on 'right to work'
Local municipalities, school boards will meet this week
FARMINGTON — Carla Sonntag, president of New Mexico Business Coalition, will give a presentation to the Farmington City Council on Tuesday about “right to work.”
The City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Farmington City Hall, 800 N. Municipal Drive.
San Juan County passed a right to work ordinance in August that would make it illegal for private sector businesses to require employees to pay union dues or fees. The New Mexico Business Coalition has been working to get similar ordinances passed throughout the state and argues right to work ordinances benefit local communities by making them more attractive to manufacturing businesses.
Opponents of right to work ordinances say they weaken unions, resulting in lower wages and less-safe work environments.
Farmington City Councilor Sean Sharer brought up the potential of drafting a right to work ordinance last month. The council asked the city attorney to research the legal issues surrounding right to work and whether the city has the authority to pass a right to work ordinance.
Sandoval County, which was the first county in New Mexico to pass a right to work ordinance, has been sued, and the state Attorney General’s Office has issued an opinion stating that only the state Legislature can pass right to work measures.
The Farmington City Council will not be making any decisions on Tuesday regarding the adoption of a right to work measure.
The council also will discuss moving the location of the winter shelter, known as The Roof, to the location on Ojo Court that currently houses the Joint Intervention Program and the Sobering Center.
Bloomfield meeting rescheduled to Tuesday
The Bloomfield City Council initially was scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday at Bloomfield City Hall, 915 N. 1st St., but that meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday. The city’s offices will be closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day.
San Juan County Assessor Jimmy Voita will present information on property tax rates in Bloomfield during the Tuesday meeting. Bloomfield saw the county's largest increase in property tax rates this year.
Aztec work session includes discussion about Main Avenue
The Aztec City Commission will have a work session at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday prior to its regular meeting at Aztec City Hall, 200 W. Chaco St.
The commission will discuss reducing the number of lanes on Main Avenue to make the street more pedestrian friendly and to slow the speed of traffic in the downtown district.
Kirtland will discuss allowing off-highway vehicles on town roads
The town of Kirtland will have a public hearing about allowing off-highway vehicles to drive on town roads during its council meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall, 47 County Road 6500.
Legislation passed in 2016 allowed municipalities to choose whether they want to allow off-highway vehicles to drive on their roads.
The Kirtland Town Council could approve the ordinance following the public hearing.
Bloomfield school board to consider water repayment agreement
The Bloomfield Municipal School District board will consider approving a memorandum of understanding for repayment of water services erroneously collected by the city of Bloomfield.
The city notified the district last month about the overbilling, which began in March 2013 and was the result of a meter being installed incorrectly for the Bloomfield High School gymnasium.
Under the agreement, the city will repay $241,644.34 to the district. The amount includes a $40,000 payment when the document is executed and credit to the district for the remaining amount.
The regular board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the district central office at 325 N. Bergin Lane.
Marching bands will perform for Farmington school board
The marching bands for Farmington and Piedra Vista high schools will perform for the Farmington Municipal School District board during the regular meeting on Thursday.
The board also is scheduled to meet in executive session to discuss the purchase, acquisition or disposal of real property or water rights, according to the agenda.
The meeting will be at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the district's central office at 2001 N. Dustin Ave.
CCSD board to hear athletics updates
There are several reports listed on the work session agenda for the Central Consolidated School District Board of Education, including two that focus on athletics.
Board members will hear about revisions to the district's athletic handbook and an update about the state's School Athletic Equity Act, which is under implementation at the high schools and middle schools in the district.
The work session is set for 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Shiprock Board Room in Shiprock.