SEC still working out details
Three days before the most significant Socorro Electric Cooperative annual meetings of member-owners in years, it’s still unclear how voting on resolutions will be conducted.
The SEC board of trustees are to work out the details tonight (Wednesday) at their first regular meeting of the month to be held at 7 p.m. in the SEC board room, 301 Abeyta St.
The board is expected to act on recommendations from the annual meeting committee, which met on Tuesday.
Manuel “Manny” Marquez, who served on the board for 29 years before resigning April 1, headed that committee.
Voting at this Saturday’s annual meeting, if a quorum of roughly 300 member-owners are present, will determine several resolutions that could radically change the structure of the co-op and how the board of trustees goes about its business.
SEC officials invited the media to a question-and-answer session on Monday, April 12, but little light was shed beyond what SEC President Paul Bustamante told El Defensor Chieftain last week and what was discussed at last month’s informational meeting.
Bustamante said that voting machines would not be used to vote on about a dozen resolutions, deviating from what has been the practice in recent years. He said there were many details that needed to be worked out, but it was likely that votes would be determine by a raise of hands — with a team of judges assigned to do the counting.
But trustee Donald Wolberg, who is on the annual meeting committee with Leroy Anaya and Milton Ulibarri, all of District 3 (Socorro), and District 4′s David Wade, wouldn’t rule out the use of paper ballots.
“The nature of the vote to be balloted is complex,” he said on Monday. “You have to talk about the potential options.”
Wolberg said voting by paper ballot, a raise of hands or physically separating voters into different sections of Finley Gym were options to be considered. Examining them from all sides, each option has its advantages and drawbacks, he said.
“There’s no really perfect way in a less than perfect world,” he said, later adding, “You can’t please everyone all the time. But it has to be rational, reasonable, accurate, economic … Whatever we do has to be uniform.”
Wolberg said assuring the legality of the vote was paramount and it’s likely SEC attorney Dennis Francish would have a say in how voting would be conducted.
Many of the resolutions passed at meetings in Districts 3 and 5 last October are aimed directly at the board with reducing expenses and increasing transparency in the crosshairs.
Among the changes called for in the member-sponsored resolutions are:
• Reducing the number of trustees from 11 to five
• Realigning districts to achieve a more equitable representation
• Limiting the compensation trustees earn annually
• Imposing term limits on trustees
• Reducing the number of monthly board meetings from two to one
• A commitment from the board to voluntarily abide by the Open Meetings Act and Inspection of Public Records Act
• Allowing members access to SEC books, records and audits so long as there is proper noncommercial purpose and the Inspection of Public Records Act is not violated
• Providing for elections to be held by mail
The board of trustees last month announced their own set of resolutions, many of which are directly in conflict with the member proposals. SEC officials have said that the alternative resolutions were designed to give member owners options and a clear choice.
Wolberg said it was important that member owners turn out Saturday night to make choices that will determine the future of the SEC.
“I would like to see 10,000 show up,” he quipped.
A quorum hasn’t been sustained at an annual meeting since 2004 when 521 members registered.
Last year, a quorum was attained through registration when 336 signed in, but the meeting was called off when it was determined less than 291 members were present when it came time for the business session.
As opposed to past years when voting was held at the time of registration, this year voting won’t take place until the last agenda item before adjournment.
There were several questions Wolberg could not answer on Monday, including how the decision not to use voting machines came about, the exact number of member-owners required to constitute a quorum and whether the voting could be moved up on the agenda if a quorum is achieved.
With regard to the member-sponsored resolutions the board has identified as being in violation of state law if adopted, including allowing mail-in voting at the district level and voluntarily abiding by the Open Meetings Act and Inspection of Public Records Act, Wolberg said the SEC and its members should work with Rep. Don Tripp.
“If people want change, they (the Legislature) have to change the laws,” he said.
Wolberg said he was looking forward to Saturday when the resolutions are expected to be resolved, so the SEC can move forward.
“If we can get through this hurdle, we can start to work on other things,” he said.
No matter what procedures are used on Saturday night, Wolberg said it was critical the voting is conducted in a fair and orderly fashion.
“First and foremost, people have to feel they have a stake in how the co-op operates,” he said.
Monday’s meeting with the media did provide some clarification as to the procedures to be followed to fill the position left vacant by Marquez’ resignation.
SEC General Manager Polo Pineda said there “will be a process” for candidates interested in serving the remaining 2-1/2 years of Marquez’ term. That is, interested parties will have to declare their candidacy 30 days in advance of a special District 3 meeting to be held within 90 days of the vacancy, as required in the bylaws.
However, Wolberg said he wasn’t sure how the situation would be handled if member-owners vote to reduce the number of trustees.
Registration for Saturday’s annual meeting is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Finley Gym. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Contact T.S. Last