Governing body; powers and duties

A. The governing body of a municipality having a mayor-council form of government shall: (1) elect one of its members to act as mayor pro tem in the absence of the mayor; (2) possess all powers granted by law and other municipal powers not conferred by law or ordinance on another officer of the municipality; (3) manage and control the finances and all property, real and personal, belonging to the municipality; (4) determine the time and place of holding its meetings, which shall be open to the public; (5) determine and adopt the rules of its own proceedings at an organizational meeting; (6) keep minutes of its proceedings, which shall be open to examination by any citizen; (7) adopt rules and regulations necessary to effect the powers granted municipalities; (8) prescribe the compensation and fees to be paid municipal officers and employees; (9) prescribe the powers and duties of those officers whose terms of office or powers and duties are not defined by law and impose additional powers and duties upon those officers whose powers and duties are prescribed by law; and (10) have the authority to cross-commission public safety officers by resolution; provided that the resolution shall be renewed at each subsequent meeting of the governing body as necessary. B. The governing body of a municipality having a mayor-council form of government may: (1) remit the fine of any person convicted of a violation of a municipal ordinance; and (2) compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as it deems desirable. C. The mayor or a majority of the members of the governing body may call special meetings by notice to each member of the governing body, personally served or left at the member's usual place of residence; provided that such meetings shall be in accordance with the Open Meetings Act [Chapter 10, Article 15 NMSA 1978]. History: 1953 Comp., § 14-11-3, enacted by Laws 1965, ch. 300; 1967, ch. 146, § 4; 2025, ch. 40, § 11.