ToadBook

Bosque Farms is run using the Mayor-Council form of government.

That means something.

This was decided back in the day when the Village was incorporated.

What does it mean?

It follows the Federal rules using separation of powers. This includes a system of checks and balances.

The Mayor is elected. The Council is elected. The Council is separate from the Mayor. (Separation of powers!)

The Mayor prepares the budget and the Council approves it. (Obviously, the Council gets their say)

The Mayor has administrative control. The Mayor hires and fires. The Council has a say in this as a budgetary concern. (Checks and Balances).

The Council passes ordinances. (Judicial system provides checks and balances on this obviously.)

This means the Council should NOT be putting people on executive session as a threat to fire them unless there is budgetary concerns (Such as we will be sued if they stay hired, they cost us too much etc).

No! The short answer is NO!

There is an ethics ruling on this very topic.

Can you make a motion on a property, then bid to repair the property?

NO.

You can vote or you can bid. You must notify the public of the possible conflict of interest. You can not prepare the bid.

This is very clear! You can read the advisory opinion here complete with state laws.

Too bad Councilor Bruhn didn't read this.

https://nmonesource.com/nmos/secap/en/item/19340/index.do

Do you doubt it happened? Go do what everyone else does - ask for the documents.

You can ask for the minutes from Bosque Farms where he VOTED to let the property go to Peralta with no mention of a possible conflict of interest.

You can go ask Peralta for the bid request that was posted and

You can ask Peralta for the final winning bid. It might be that the bid was prepared by someone different but 3B Builders won the bid. 3B Builders, Inc. is a general contracting company located in Bosque Farms, New Mexico, owned and operated by James D. Bruhn (Jim Bruhn)

How can someone spend time defending that. What a mess.

https://www.nmmainstreet.org/

November 16 there is a New Mexico Infrastructure Conference for local officials. Interesting - wonder if there is any of the Councilors going to have their voices heard about the infrastructure this Village needs in order to continue to attract businesses.

There are a lot of links here including Main Street programs for communities. Lots of communities listed here that have been helped or awarded funds. Do you see Bosque Farms on it? (Hint: no!)

October 23 there was a deadline for funds to be provided in 2028. Yup, gotta think ahead and be willing to work towards the best interest of others, not your political asperations.

So the Council hired an attorney.

How did that happen? To get services for an attorney they have to ask for a proposal. This is one of the things you learn when you study local government. RFP - Request for Proposal is required.

EVEN if the attorney wants to volunteer his time? Yup! The council can not just contract with someone.

There has been many meetings but there has not been any vote by the Council according to minutes and attendance at meetings.

SO - how did the Council hire an attorney?

And then in the paper there is this: Among the allegations... ... and using taxpayer money to research the possibility of bringing criminal charges against DeSmet and others.

Well what is it the Three are doing ??? Oh wait. Spending money hiring an attorney to bring criminal charges against the Mayor. (which goes against Councilor Desmet's tirade about the cost to hire one)

Pot meet Kettle!

You might wish it were not so but the Bosque Farms Municipal Government is a Mayor - Council form of government. You might not wish it were so but this is a strong mayor system.

And here is a little bit about that.

https://www.multistate.us/insider/2025/4/30/local-governments-101-common-structures-and-how-local-laws-are-made

Bosque Farms Council moves to oust Mayor Gillespie Councilors hire Domenici Law Firm to represent them

This was the headline in the paper.

So please explain how the money spent on an attorney such a big deal that the Council has done all it can to get rid of every attorney and now hire one?

Councilor DeSmet discussed over and over again how much was spent on attorney fees. She yelled, she rolled her eyes, she was angry and upset about the attorney and the costs.

And now? The Council has some how found the money for an attorney.

Explain - how??? There isn't an attorney to look at ordinances or answer employee questions or advise during meetings - BUT there is one to represent the Council?

How does that help the Village of Bosque Farms?

Maybe, just MAYBE, if the Council quit doing that they could find the funds for grinder pumps or find the time to stop having random meetings and just address the sewer plant.

One thing the Council can do that is basic fundamental government management -

There was a at some point a big survey - what does the community and residents of Bosque Farms want to see?

The Council can set clear priorities and align the resources the Village has towards those priorities. They can describe what success looks like.

The Council can meet with the public, the Council, Department heads, and businesses in order to address needs, wants, future goals, and develop a plan.

Some of the priorities that have been discussed - Ambulance Service (Public Safety) - The lights on main street - Keeping Bosque Farms rural (Ordinances) - What else? Road repairs? Bringing in Businesses? A pool or a splash pad? A library addition? A gazebo for the park?

Once again - It's ok to set up a go fund me account. That is just fine. It's ok to ask for funds as a citizen who isn't elected.

BUT when you are an elected official it just opens you up for all kinds of wrong.

When an elected official asks for funds regardless of the reason it is an ethical issue.

It opens her to accusations that she's expecting donations and being open to provide a favor in return.

Every local business, every potential business, every person who wants something from the council willing to pony up some money might donate but it just looks suspiciously like a buy my vote request.

It is no longer possible to see who donated. So who donated and who is she voting for to help? Are those the same names?

There are all kinds of ethical issues with this. The point is - if you are a councilor you are a councilor. You are not a citizen sometimes when you want to be and a councilor when you want to be.

That is what ethics are - you not only do the right thing but you stay aware of the way things look to the general public and how they might be interpreted.

In the original post about the Bosque Farms Fire a post by Ms. Desmet thanking those who helped her was shared.

One last comment about this post.

She made it sound as if she expected the MRGCD to help her farm specifically.

But why? Why would she expect them to swoop in and help her personally?

These are the things they do for individuals: -- Help with water and farm planning -- Soil and Water Testing -- Financial Incentives and Water Leasing -- Property Mapping -- A few other random things.

The rest of what they do is take care of the Bosque. Ensure there is access to the Bosque, control access to the Bosque, provide recreational places and a few other things.

So when they were here fighting the fire - it was to help and because the fire was in the Bosque.

Anyone whose home was in danger and anyone who might loose their hay and hay barn in trouble - would ask for help too.

What is the one problem with this - She was a Councilor.

So any business that wanted to curry favor, any potential business that wanted special conditions, any person who might be in front of the Planning and Zoning Board and eventually the Council.... it's too their benefit to show up and help.

Generally, it isn't bad to ask for help. It is questionable when you are in a position of authority.