Commission rejects resolution to clarify official travel expenses, policy

The Otero County Commission discussed, but did not approve, a new travel resolution which laid out a process for the County to disburse travel reimbursements to county Commissioners.

The resolution failed Nov. 14 with negative votes from Commission Chairman Couy Griffin and Commission Vice-Chairman Gerald  Matherly, and an abstention from Commissioner Lori Bies. 

The resolution was drafted by Otero County Attorney Michel Eshleman in consultation with Bies.

"The reason I brought this to this meeting is, obviously, what's on the books now is not clear enough. It needs to be stated more clearly that way the current commission and any commissions that follow have a much better guideline to follow," Bies said. 

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The resolution follows an investigation initiated Oct. 22 by the New Mexico State Auditor's Office into travel reimbursements made to Griffin which fell outside of state regulations governing reimbursements to public officials for official travel. The reimbursement totaling more than $3,000 was repaid to the county by Griffin.

More:Auditor: Otero County commissioner, Cowboys for Trump founder's reimbursement may have violated law

The failed travel resolution stated what official travel an Otero County Commissioner can and cannot be reimbursed for.

The failed resolution would require that county commissioners not be reimbursed for travel that involves political events such as fundraisers, political meetings, speaking, advertising, campaigning and taking any action for or against any political party.

It also stated that county commissioners cannot be reimbursed for travel wherein they do work for a political organization including a political action committee, social welfare organizations that do political activities or other such organizations.

"When I read this resolution, I thought, 'Man, whoever wrote this has a real vendetta against county commissioners'," Griffin said. "Because, to me, this resolution is like putting a web over a commissioner... If you read through this resolution, it's got tricks and turns everywhere in it."

An agenda item submitted by Griffin to discuss "recent failure to follow travel policy" was pulled from the agenda at the beginning of the Nov. 14 meeting.

During commissioner reports at the end of the meeting, Griffin said his questions about the issue went unanswered due to the ongoing investigation, which he claimed he did not know about.

Travel budget resolution corrected

At the Oct. 10 regular county commission meeting, the Otero County Commission approved aresolution to increase the Otero County District 2 Commissioner's travel budget.

The resolution, which passed unanimously, raised the travel budget by $5,000.

More:County Commissioner wants $5,000 more for travel expenses

At the Nov. 14 meeting, a resolution lowering the District 2 travel expenses by $2,500 was unanimously approved, to correct what commissioners said was an error made at the Oct. 10 meeting. 

Bies submitted the resolution.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on twitter at @nicmaxreporter.