In February 2021, I was appointed as the Commissioner to District 2 in Rio Arriba County. My goal has always been to work for the people of my District as well as the Rio Arriba County as a whole. What has taken place in the last year has driven me to this point where I feel I must let the public know how matters are being conducted and the lack of transparency I am fed up with.
On July 14, 2022 a Board of Finance Budget Worksession was held at the County Complex in the Commission Chambers.
At the start of the session, the Board Chairman James J. Martinez announced that this was an informational meeting and no one in the audience would be allowed to make comments or ask questions. He informed the people that if they had any concerns, they could contact the Manager or her staff in private
In the room were the three candidates, two of whom will be the new Commissioners in January. None were allowed any comment. The Budget is a public document which should be made available to any constituent who is interested. Not allowing the Commissioners to hear the concerns from the public is WRONG. The current County Manager filters any information given to the Commissioners at her discretion. I have complained about this practice many times. In this meeting I was informed that a meeting was held in late April to discuss the County investments.
I had been asking for such an update for many months. I was not informed of this meeting nor invited. That is a direct slap to my District. How can I do my job without the information necessary? In last month’s Rio Arriba County Commission Meeting on June 30, 2022 held in Tierra Amarilla, there were 3 agenda items (Resolutions) that were presented to the Board to vote on.
These items were presented without any accompanying paperwork describing what we were in fact voting on. I refused to approve them since I did not know what they were about. My fellow Commissioners did vote to approve 2 of the items on the recommendation of the County Manager. How’s that for Transparency!
With the change coming in January, I hope the new Commissioners will be able to change the practices currently happening and can start running the County as it should be, as a business to support the wants and needs of the people of Rio Arriba.
Respectfully,
Christine Bustos
Rio Arriba Commissioner
District 2