TOWN SUPPORTS BILL THAT MIGHT AID MAYOR'S BUSINESS.(News)

Byline: ANDY DENNISON

By Andy Dennison

The Taos News

The Taos Town Council passed a resolution Aug. 25 supporting state legislation that would, by the mayor's own admission, benefit his broadcasting business.

The resolution focused on a proposed bill that permits legal notices to be published on Internet, radio and television outlets.

Historically, all legal notices have been printed in newspapers at a charge set by the state legislature. The cost of running a legal ad went up this session, to 56 cents a column inch.

"It's a conflict of interest, yes, that's why I recused myself," said Mayor Darren Cordova, who owns four radio stations. "I benefit both ways: I want more open and transparent government, and I'm a broadcaster."

Cordova said he was asked by the New Mexico Broadcasters Association, which represents 211 radio and television outlets, to present the resolution to the Taos Town Council. All other government entities have been asked to do similarly, he said.

Originally, the resolution authorized the mayor to lobby for the bill, but the town's legal staff saw a potential conflict of interest. So Town Manager Daniel Miera will be the town's advocate at the legislature.

Exactly how non-print outlets would publish notices remains unclear. Town Manager Daniel Miera told The Taos News that he envisions a combination of methods that would supplement newspaper ads.

The latest version of the legislation it would be legal "by reading the notice and posting the notice on the station's web site." A new version will likely be introduced in January, during the Legislature's one-month session.

Cordova said that reading lengthy legals on the radio would be "bad programming." However, he said that selective ones, such as requests for proposals or bids, might fit into a shorter segment.

"It's possible that we could refer the listener or viewer to the newspaper or a Web site," the mayor said.

He contends that the idea came up after The Albuquerque Journal pulled circulation from small towns in southern New Mexico, eliminating residents' ability to read public notices.

The New Mexico Press Association, which represents the 50 newspapers in the state, opposes the legislation, which passed the state House of Representatives but stalled in a Senate committee this past session. A memorial was passed to permit the issue to come up again.

Further action

In other business at its special meeting on Aug. 25, the Taos Town Council:

n accepted a $111,000 grant to pay for alternative detention services for Taos County youths, through the Taos County Juvenile Justice Board;

n gave its approval for the Public Works Department to apply for federal aid for the Chile Line and Handi-Van services;

n authorized $2,900 for Town Manager Daniel Miera to attend the International City Manager's Association annual meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Sept. 10-17;

n OK'd $1,700 for councilman Michael Silva to attend the National Association of Latino Elected Officials in Los Angeles, June 24-27;

n gave Song's Asian Restaurant a beer-and-wine license; and

n accepted $254,000 in federal funding for various projects at the Taos Regional Airport.