Council confirms advisory committee appointees and reports staff changes

The Legislative Council approved five public members for two advisory committees created by recent legislation and received staff and facilities updates.

The council accepted nominees recommended by the speaker’s office for the Trade Courts Advisory Committee and the Strategic Economic Development Site Advisory Committee: Alex Nelos, Thelma Chenoweth, Ursula Lucero, Lucinda Vargas and Mario Infante were approved with no recorded opposition.

Shauna reported council service had hired two new staff attorneys, Em Green and Lisa Morrison, and noted supervisory transitions: Carrie McCabe is retiring and Galaxy Dancer will take on board-processing supervision; Sheila Kelleher became the Capital Outlay program coordinator. Shauna also provided a brief financial update on interim expert expenses ($5,441.36) and building updates (universal bathroom/lactation room nearing completion and an LFC remodel).

The council received an update from the whips on interim committee process work and asked for draft tweaks ahead of the next meeting. Representative Armstrong asked that an agenda item on preserving the legislature’s power of the purse and review of recent executive spending from operating reserves be placed on the Jan. 19 agenda.

What happens next: appointees will be notified; staff reported that the next Legislative Council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 19 and requested any interim-process proposals be submitted by then.