By Roger Lanse

Sponsored by District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison, the amended ordinance would ensure the public has the right to free speech, she said, but they can’t do it in an aggressive manner “that intentionally or recklessly makes any physical contact with or touches another person in the course of the solicitation without the person’s consent. They cannot intentionally or recklessly cause another to reasonably fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon their person or property in the course of solicitation or other expression of speech without the person’s consent.

“It includes,” Bettison continued, “intimidating another without their consent for the purpose of seeking money or other valuable property and intentionally or recklessly blocking free passage of another, whether pedestrian, an operator of a motor vehicle or bicycle, on a public street and right-of-way.”

Town Attorney Robert Scavron interjected that a somewhat obscure section in the municipal code relating to charitable or non-profit purposes would need to be deleted if this amended begging ordinance is passed. He recommended posting a ‘No Trespassing’ sign, in addition to ‘No Peddling’ or ‘No Solicitation’ signs on one’s property, if the property owner does not want any unsolicited entry on the property.

Bettison stated that the resolution approved at a prior meeting regarding the Municipal Boundary Commission has moved forward and will be presented to the Resolutions Committee in a revised form.

District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano said that the Senior Olympians did well at recent games in Albuquerque.

Cano stated that the District 4 Territorial Charter Volunteer Day will be held Friday, Aug. 3, from 4-10 p.m. with a Battle of the Badges softball game between the Silver City Police Department and other law enforcement agencies and first responders. Food and booths for kids will be available, according to Cano.

District 3 Councilor Jose Ray Jr. reported a public meeting would be held July 13 at 10 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus building on Swan Street in reference to a SPIN (Supporting People in Need) project to provide permanent supportive housing and/or services to individuals and families with disabilities, especially mental illness.

District 2 Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith said that also on July 13, the District 2 Territorial Charter Volunteer Day will be held behind the old water works building. She suggested residents could go to SPIN in the morning and the District 2 Territorial Charter Day after.

Two residents spoke in favor of allowing side-by-sides on city streets. One, a businessman, suggested allowing the vehicles would be good for his business and business in general and the other desired legalization to more easily transport his cancer-stricken wife for care.

Council approved a notice of intent ordinance amending smoking ordinances, adding new definitions for ‘cigar bar,’ ‘e-cigarette,’ ‘second-hand smoke,’ ‘smoke free,’ and ‘smoking.’

Council approved two resolutions permitting the town to participate in two New Mexico Department of Transportation projects. One is a $275,000 project with no matching funds from the town for purchasing rights-of-ways along Little Walnut Road. The other is a $408,000 project to construct sidewalks between Market and Yankie streets, west of Bullard Street, for which the state legislature has allocated $425,000.

Council also approved a resolution allowing the town to participate in a $63,937 chip sealing project. The town’s share of the cost is 25 percent, or $15,984.

The preceding NOI and three resolutions can be seen in their entirety on the town’s website.

A public celebration permit application for the 2nd Annual Silver City Wine Festival was approved by council. The event is scheduled for July 13-14, 2019, at Gough Park. No times were given.

Ray offered a correction to the statement he made at the last meeting in which he said that of all the municipalities in the state, Silver City was the only one who has not legalized side-by-sides for city streets. Ray’s correction was of all the municipalities in the state that have looked at the question of legalizing side-by-sides on city streets, Silver City is the only one which has not legalized the vehicles.

Mayor Ken Ladner appointed Harold Henry Gregory to the Municipal Museum Community Advisory Group.