County to co-host open government workshop

November 04, 2009

The Valencia County Commission agreed tonight to co-host an open government workshop in the wake of a controversial ban on an outspoken citizen.

The commission voted unanimously to accept an offer from the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (NMFOG) to co-host the workshop. The Office of New Mexico’s Attorney General is expected to also participate.

NMFOG wrote to commissioners last month after the county banned Mike Wood from attending any future commission meetings, citing him as a continual disruption. In the letter, the foundation’s director asked the county to reconsider the ban.

Last week, the district court temporarily overturned the ban, pending a hearing on the matter.

Wood, who was removed from the last three commission meetings, was present at tonight’s meeting, sitting toward the back of the public gallery and remaining quiet.

The open government workshop will likely be held in a community center and will highlight the purpose and content of the New Mexico Open Meetings Act. The City of Belen hosted a similar meeting two years ago.

The date of the meeting hasn’t been set.

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