The Raton City commission met in regular session on Tuesday, Dec. 8th and all commission members were present with the commission setting its Legislative Capital Outlay Priorities. City Manager Scott Berry presented the list that included
- Water Treatment Facility, originally completed in 1946, $ 250,000.
- Streets, Business District improvements, more to be done in Spring due to weather.
- Continued drainage system Improvement: $300,000.
- Solid waste station: $250,000.
The motion to approve the Capital Outlay Priorities was passed unanimously.
“You Rock Award” this quarter for recognition of community service was given by the City and the Raton Ministerial Alliance to Kenny & Judy Volpato.
The Raton City Municipal Election was addressed by the Commission with 3 seats, including Mayor Pro-Tem Neil Segotta, Linde Schuster and Don Giacomo all up for election. Any qualified candidate can submit their name for candidacy on January 5, 2016 with the Municipal election set for March 1, 2016
The election motion was also passed unanimously.
Public Discussion was opened up by Mayor Mance on granting approval of a beer and wine license for Bruno’s Pizza and Wing’s. With no public response against the request, a motion to grant license was approved unanimously.
The proposal for a Well Work plan, this was tabled until Jan. 12th meeting due to final costs not being ready.
The Commission also passed unanimously amended cost proposal for Landfill Cover Engineering. Some 42000 Cubic yards of topsoil is needed, Monitoring is required, cost proposal is $60,000.
City Treas. Michael Ann Antonucci presented a report on the individual duties of City administrative employees with many of the administrative staff responsibilities that are handled such as a $4, 524,919 City of Raton payroll, with budget expenditures of 14 million dollars. She went on to state the City of Raton has implemented internal controls and that no fiscal agent is now required, also reporting that there is a reduction in audit funding and an increase in cash reserves.
Under the City Manager’s report, Scott Berry reported that he has asked Dept. Heads to report to the City Commission in public meetings the status of their departments to insure communication and clarity for all.
Berry stated the Multi-Modal project is underway and will continue as weather permits and also stated the Senior Center project is just beginning and that future street improvements will continue contingent on weather and available funding.
City Manager Scott Berry also discussed the importance of a vandalism meeting to be held Monday Dec. 14 th at International Bank to discuss the recent wave of vandalism, and how we all can work together for a solution.
Berry also stated that NMDOT will hold a meeting Dec. 17th 6pm at International Bank in Raton to discuss the Construction project Raton exit 454 to the Colorado State Line.
In earlier action, Mayor Pro-Tem Neil Segotta read and presented The Reindeer Dash Proclamation to Jamie Esquibel and Sally Chavez. Raton Police Chief John Garcia and RFD Chief Jim Matthews stated they had collected combined monies of $3500.00
The next regular meeting would fall on December 22nd, so it was cancelled in observance of Christmas week. That means the next regular scheduled meeting is Tues. Jan 12th at 6pm, and will be broadcast on KRTN AM 1490.
