MLK Commission Minutes of 12.13.24

MLK Jr. Commission
January 21, 2025

Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission
Regular Meeting Minutes
Friday, December 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

1. Call to Order

  • Time: 11:21 a.m.
  • Chairman West apologized for the delayed start due to technical difficulties with the hybrid meeting technology at the new International Library location.

2. Establishment of a Quorum

  • Quorum established with 9 Commissioners present.

3. Roll Call, Introductions, & Verifications

  • Commissioners Present:
    • Chairman Little V. West (Speaker of the House appointee)
    • Vice Chair Constance Williams (Governor appointee)
    • Commissioner Joseph Cotton (House Minority Leader appointee)
    • State Treasurer Laura Montoya, ex officio
    • PRC Chairman Pat O’Connell, ex officio
    • Human Rights Bureau Director Hazel Mella, Ph.D., ex officio
    • Cabinet Secretary Josett Monette, ex officio
    • Commissioner Brandi Stone (Governor appointee)
    • Commissioner Anthony Umi (Governor appointee)
  • Commissioners Absent:
    • Commissioner Joseph Dabney, III (Governor appointee)
    • Commissioner Oscar Robinson (Senate Minority Leader appointee)
    • Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, ex officio
    • Secretary Ahdohny Routheni (Senate President pro tem appointee)
  • Announcements:
    • Acting Director Gaines was absent due to a personal emergency.
    • Secretary Routheni was absent due to commencement ceremonies.

4. Audio Quality Confirmation

  • Remote audio quality confirmed to proceed with hybrid meeting.

5. Approval of Agenda

  • Motion to approve the agenda by State Treasurer Montoya, seconded by Commissioner Cotton.
  • Vote: Approved 9-0.

6. Approval of Minutes

A. November 8, 2024

  • Motion by Commissioner Cotton, seconded by Vice Chair Williams, to approve the minutes as presented.
  • Vote: Approved 6-0 (3 abstentions: Montoya, Umi, Stone).
  • Attachment: Approved November 8, 2024 minutes (Attachment 1).

B. October 18, 2024

  • Motion by State Treasurer Montoya to amend October 18, 2024 minutes to include a transcript.
  • Discussion included clarifying the transcript as "Unofficial Excerpt/Transcript."
  • Vote: Approved 7-0 (2 abstentions: Umi, Stone).
  • Attachments:
    • Revised October 18, 2024 minutes (Attachment 2).
    • Transcript addendum (Attachment 3).

7. “Dr. King Minute”

  • Presented by Vice Chair Williams:
    • Quote: “Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant, and to face the challenge of change.”
    • Reflections on promoting change and meeting the Commission’s mission.

8. Public Comment & Community Input

  • No public comments received.

9. Informational-Only Items

A. Commissioner Emails

  • Efforts underway to establish official @mlk.nm.gov email addresses for Commissioners.

B. DFA Training

  • Scheduling of Department of Finance & Administration (DFA) training in progress.

C. Meeting Location

  • Challenges with balancing technology, accessibility, and affordability discussed.

10. Potential Department Creation

  • Presentation by State Representative Pamelya Herndon postponed to the next meeting.

11. Acting Executive Director Report

In the absence of Acting Executive Director Gaines, the Commission reviewed her written report:

  • FY 2024 Audit Status Update
  • 2025 Commemoration Planning Update
  • Monthly Budget/Financial Updates
  • 2024 Annual Report
  • YLC Planning
  • Attachment: Acting Executive Director’s report (Attachment 4).

12. New Business

A. Funding Requests

  • No action taken.

B. Executive Director Search Committee Report

  • Motion to adopt report by Chair Hazel Mella, seconded by Commissioner Cotton.
  • Vote: Approved 9-0.
  • Attachment: Executive Director Search Committee Report (Attachment 5).

C. Strategic Planning Committee

  • Discussion postponed to the next meeting.

13. Closed Session

  • Motion to enter executive session by Vice Chair Williams, seconded by Commissioner Mella.
  • Vote: Approved 9-0.

Open Session

  • Motion to return to open session by Vice Chair Williams, seconded by State Treasurer Montoya.
  • Vote: Approved 9-0.

14. Next Meetings

  • Proposed Dates:
    • January 24, 2025
    • February 21, 2025
    • March 14, 2025
  • Annual meeting likely in May 2025.

15. Commissioner Training

  • Brief training provided by Deputy Attorney General Billy Jimenez on rolling quorum and gifts.
  • Comprehensive training planned for January.

16. Adjournment

  • Meeting adjourned without objection.

Meeting Recording Links:

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