Taos council approves resolution to contract with Downtown Taos Inc. for Main Street program

The Town of Taos on July 8 approved Resolution 25-31, authorizing the town to enter a contract with Downtown Taos Inc. to implement the local economic transformation strategy and operate the Taos Main Street program for fiscal year 2025–26, with one textual amendment removing an erroneous reference to a missing attachment.

Charles (a representative in the meeting) clarified the resolution is an authorization step, not the final contract, and that the memorandum of understanding included as attachment 1 is the program guideline from the state. Council members asked for the parenthetical reference to “attachment 2” to be removed because no such attachment exists in the packet. Town legal staff recommended deleting that parenthetical language and said the change would not alter the resolution’s effect.

Councilor Oswald moved to approve Resolution 25-31 with the parenthetical reference to attachment 2 removed; Jessica (town attorney) and staff confirmed the MOU shown is attachment 1. Councilor Oswald’s motion carried unanimously (Council Member Oswald: yes; Mayor Pro Tem Fambro: yes; Council Member Fernandez: yes; Council Member Ortega: yes).

Council Member Ortega disclosed that, as executive director of a local organization that receives assistance from Main Street, she might appear to have a conflict of interest; the town attorney advised that it did not constitute an actual conflict but that recusal remained an option. The approved resolution directs staff to continue contract negotiations and return the final agreement for review and legal review before the town executes the contract.