Cook to continue as Ruidoso village attorney

• Cook acted a backup attorney for years and serves in the state legislature

A contract signed with Zach Cook to act as village attorney in 2016 was renewed for another year by village councilors as part of their September consent agenda.

Items on that agenda are voted on in a block and without discussion. Councilors are charged with reviewing the items in advance and the dollar limit that can be approved is capped.

Cook first represented the village as backup when H. John Underwood was the official attorney and later when Dan Bryant, now a district judge, was village attorney. He also serves as a state representative from District 56, which include Ruidoso.

The current contract is a first renewal with Zach Cook LLC and Doerr & Knudson P.A. of Portales for professional services as general counsel. The compensation remains the same as last year and the original contract was signed July 12, 2016.

In a memorandum to councilors, Village Manager Debi Lee wrote that the contract was budgeted in the general fund’s legislative department’s legal fees line item for $150,000. In addition, other departments have budgeted legal fees for work completed specifically for them.

The agreement lists Cook as the lead counsel and Doerr & Knudson as the backup attorney.

“The agreement also provided that the village manager will issue written task orders specifying the nature of the work to be completed along with a schedule for completion,” Lee wrote.

Some of the specific duties covered include preparing or reviewing contracts, ordinances, resolutions, franchises and other miscellaneous document, and advising elected officials and departments heads.

The agreement also allows the attorney with prior approval to retain on behalf of the village other professional assistance he deems necessary to perform requested services by the village.

Other items of interest approved as part of the consent agenda included a third contract renewal with EcoServants Inc for $6,200 to cover professional services as part of the Community Partnership Improvement Projects and Services; approval of Change Order 2 and acceptance of final completion with Total Contracting Services Inc. for the large water metal project, and covering a reduction from $329,845 to $322,802; and approval of an amendment to the agreement with Roper Construction for Midtown Commons access ramp and sidewalk, requesting $1,662.