Archive for Edgewood
A Better Deal Elsewhere For Wildlife West?
by John Weckerle
We have posted several articles here about the treatment that Wildlife West Nature Park has been receiving from the Town of Edgewood. Wildlife West, a community asset providing employment opportunities, educational programs, an enhanced zoo, and great entertainment, has faced what appears to be outright hostility from the Town government since the March election. Despite the fact that the Town’s attorney has stated that there may be way to legally fund the annual Town music festival at the Park, Mayor Bob Stearley has remained adamant that any support for the event represents a violation of the anti-donation clause of the State Constitution. Knowing that tax revenues would increase as a result of new gross receipts for the Town, Mr. Stearley has resolutely insisted that the Town is too strapped for cash to make a contribution to the event, a claim we have repeatedly disputed here – and based on this article in the Mountain View Telegraph, it would appear that we were right in disputing it. Thus far, the Edgewood Town Council has gone along with Mr. Stearley’s positions with little resistance. According to the article, Mr. Stearley committed at the July 18 meeting to asking the Town attorney to look into ways to fund the music festival and, in a request dated June 27, Mr. Stearley instructed the Town attorney to report to the Council at its July 2 meeting.
Certainly, this treatment has been difficult for the folks at Wildlife West, and for those who have selflessly donated money, provided food for the animals and materials for improving the Park, and volunteered to make the Park the outstanding community asset it has become. Now, it would appear, that at least one nearby community recognizes the value of the Park, and might just be willing to give it the treatment it deserves. »» A Better Deal Elsewhere For Wildlife West?
Our Friend The NMIPRA
by John Weckerle
In response to concerns voiced by former Edgewood Mayor Howard Calkins in a letter to The Independent and by others in a variety of venues, I submitted an Open Meetings Act complaint to the NM Attorney General’s office several weeks ago. This complaint revolved around Mr. Calkins’s concerns and what has been suggested as an excessive use of e-mail that may not be in compliance with the Open Meetings Act. The AG’s office has responded with a request for additional information, which has been compiled and is being submitted. I have also been submitting requests for information regarding the recent debate on funding Town events, and thus far the Town has cooperated.
This brings us to a short discussion of the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (NMIPRA), which provides that every public body must provide access to records for the purpose of inspection to every person requesting it. NMIPRA provides statutory time limits for response and penalties for improper denial of access, including damages of up to $100 per day plus reasonable attorney’s fees. The Act also provides for enforcement either through the Attorney General’s office or by civil action through district court.
It is important for all residents of our area to know their rights under this very important statute. We are therefore providing the text of the statute as well as our letter to the Town of Edgewood as an example.
Edgewood Mayor’s Statements Need Clarification
by John Weckerle
Over the last couple of weeks, we have been making a series of information requests to, and asking some rather detailed questions of, the Town of Edgewood regarding the Town budget and the Town attorney’s opinion regarding funding Town events. As a result, we find the timing of this Guest View in the Mountain View Telegraph to be rather interesting.
One of the issues we have with the Town budget spreadsheet is the fact that it appears to be incomplete and/or not configured correctly. A budget subject to State approval and public release should not contain (#REF) entries in any of the cells. We have requested a copy of the final spreadsheet. We will reserve judgment on the forward-looking statements in Mayor Stearley’s Guest View regarding the sewer (and other initiatives) and will be delighted if, as suggested, it is operating by January. »» Edgewood Mayor’s Statements Need Clarification
This Weekend Was For The Birds
by John Weckerle
Or, perhaps more accurately, part of this weekend was about the birds. Saturday morning, my mother-in-law and I attended the first half of Wildlife West Nature Park’s bird of prey handling class. Normally held on a single day, the class was split into two Saturday sessions this year due to scheduling imperatives. This year, the class’s first session was held by master falconer Tom Smylie of The Peregrine Fund. A class of about 22 people learned the basics of raptor identification, their position within their ecosystems, and the reasons for such attributes as wing structure, tail length, and other physical attributes that make birds of prey suited to their environment and their way of life.
We also learned a few interesting tidbits about birds in general, including: »» This Weekend Was For The Birds
Parker’s Farm Greenhouse
by John Weckerle
For years, Spring and Summer would see a portable sign standing at the corner of NM 344 and Church Road in Edgewood and proclaiming that Parker’s Farm greenhouse was open for the season. The sign is gone now, whether as a result of development or prohibitions against off-premise signs contained in Edgewood’s rather lengthy and complex sign ordinance, but Parker’s remains, selling quality plants every Saturday and Sunday from 9 to 5 during the planting season. »» Parker’s Farm Greenhouse
A Lawyer’s Time and Advice Is What?
by Chuck Ring
I guess that law schools must inject some of their graduates with chameleon DNA. How else to explain Edgewood’s very own attorney changing legal color at the drop of a suggestion? I am referring to his inability to support the funding of contracts with Wildlife West Nature Park, the Edgewood Library and the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce as reported in The Independent of May 21, 2008. All three entities have, in the past, contracted with the Town of Edgewood to provide services to the Town of Edgewood. Our attorney, Mr. Marcus Rael, Esq. seems unable to grasp the concept of contractual services, although he previously made no apparent protest regarding agreements with each of the aforementioned organizations. It seems Mr. Rael almost delights in referring to the contract payments as contributions in violation of the State Of New Mexico’s Anti-Donation Clause. »» A Lawyer’s Time and Advice Is What?
A Small Diversion
by John Weckerle
One of my favorite hobbies, albeit one I do not have time to indulge in all that often, is what I call “zootography.” I’ve visited a number of zoos – for example, Wildlife West, Albuquerque Biopark, Bronx Zoo, Houston Zoo, Palm Beach Zoo, Cameron Park Zoo (Waco, TX), Lowry Park Zoo (Tampa), Los Angeles Zoo, Boston Aquarium, and the Aquarium of the Pacific – and have always had a great time. This past Wednesday was my birthday, and I have a zoo just minutes from the house, so I decided to take a little time off and stroll around Wildlife West with the camera. Today, I’ll share a few of the photos with our readers. Have a great Sunday!
A Town Is More Than Pavement and Pipes
by John Weckerle
In recent letters to The Independent (May 14; letter not available online) and the Mountain View Telegraph (May 15), Janelle Turner and Kathryn Cleaver make the case that municipalities should wait until all infrastructure projects are completed, police forces are fully staffed, and libraries are in their final stage of completion before providing funding for other things like Town events and other community initiatives. I respectfully disagree. »» A Town Is More Than Pavement and Pipes
Will the Grinches steal Edgewood’s music festival?
Note: Portions of this article were submitted as a letter to the editor of The Independent, who has indicated it will appear in the May 14, 2008 edition. Thanks, Independent!
by John Weckerle
There appears to be an effort underway on the part of some Edgewood politicians to cut the funding for the Town’s annual celebration and the Wildlife West annual summer music festival. With less than three months before the event is scheduled to occur, this will place a severe hardship upon Wildlife West. The rationalizations provided for this puzzling behavior simply do not appear to hold water.
In this May 8, 2008 letter to the editor of the Mountain View Telegraph, Town Councilor Glenn Felton’s response to letters regarding the Wildlife West Nature Park’s events raises concerns regarding funding and the provision of complimentary tickets to vendors, volunteers and sponsors. Many of Mr. Felton’s criticisms, and those of other opponents of the Park, are inappropriate and potentially misleading. »» Will the Grinches steal Edgewood’s music festival?