ROSWELL NEW MEXICO
AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Item No. 30.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 02/12/2026
COMMITTEE:
N/A
CONTACT:
Amalia Martinez
CHAIR:
Mayor Pro Tem
ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve the terms of employment and job description for Christopher J. Nairn-Mahan (Josh) for the position of City Attorney. (Corn/Mayor Jennings)
BACKGROUND:
Initiated by: Mayor Jennings
Sec. 2-84. - Qualifications. The city attorney shall be admitted to the practice of law by the supreme court of the state, and he shall be in good standing in the State Bar of New Mexico. He shall have at a minimum six years of previous full-time legal practice.
Sec. 2-85. - Duties. The city attorney shall: (1)Be the chief legal officer of the city and legal adviser to the governing body. He shall attend all regular meetings of the council and such other meetings of the council as he shall be requested to attend by the mayor. He shall have the right to be heard at any meeting of the council at which matters involving questions of law are being discussed. He shall render to the council his opinion upon any question of law involving the interests of the city at all times when requested by the council to do so. He shall draft and prepare all contracts to be entered into by the city and shall submit the contracts to the council for its approval, whenever requested by the council to do so. He shall draft and prepare all city ordinances and shall submit the ordinances to the council for its approval, whenever requested by the council to do so. (2)Draft and prepare all process and papers for the use of police officers in the carrying out by them of the duties of their office, whenever requested by the police chief to do so. He may prosecute all actions brought in the municipal court on behalf of the city, whenever requested by the municipal judge to do so or whenever in his judgment it is for the general welfare of the city that any such action should be so prosecuted. (3)Supervise and pass upon the legality as to the manner and form of all bonds to be given by any city officer or by any person entering into such a contractual relationship with the city as requires the giving of a bond to the city. (4)Perform any other duties that are required by the governing and customary to the practice of law. (5)The city attorney shall be responsible for the performance, functions, and all personnel of his office. (6)The city attorney shall have pocket settlement authority of no more than $20,000.00 per occurrence. Such settlements shall not be made without the consent of
Sec. 2-84. - Qualifications. The city attorney shall be admitted to the practice of law by the supreme court of the state, and he shall be in good standing in the State Bar of New Mexico. He shall have at a minimum six years of previous full-time legal practice.
Sec. 2-85. - Duties. The city attorney shall: (1)Be the chief legal officer of the city and legal adviser to the governing body. He shall attend all regular meetings of the council and such other meetings of the council as he shall be requested to attend by the mayor. He shall have the right to be heard at any meeting of the council at which matters involving questions of law are being discussed. He shall render to the council his opinion upon any question of law involving the interests of the city at all times when requested by the council to do so. He shall draft and prepare all contracts to be entered into by the city and shall submit the contracts to the council for its approval, whenever requested by the council to do so. He shall draft and prepare all city ordinances and shall submit the ordinances to the council for its approval, whenever requested by the council to do so. (2)Draft and prepare all process and papers for the use of police officers in the carrying out by them of the duties of their office, whenever requested by the police chief to do so. He may prosecute all actions brought in the municipal court on behalf of the city, whenever requested by the municipal judge to do so or whenever in his judgment it is for the general welfare of the city that any such action should be so prosecuted. (3)Supervise and pass upon the legality as to the manner and form of all bonds to be given by any city officer or by any person entering into such a contractual relationship with the city as requires the giving of a bond to the city. (4)Perform any other duties that are required by the governing and customary to the practice of law. (5)The city attorney shall be responsible for the performance, functions, and all personnel of his office. (6)The city attorney shall have pocket settlement authority of no more than $20,000.00 per occurrence. Such settlements shall not be made without the consent of
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION
Salary is set at an equivalent of Grade 96, Step 9, or $151,271.55 annually.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The Legal Department reviewed the agreement and has approved its final form.
BOARD AND COMMITTEE ACTION:
There was no time to send through the Legal Committee, and this comes before the City Council directly.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
While this matter does not require a staff recommendation, it should be noted that the City Manager assisted the Mayor in preparing the final document.