Sunland Park mayor Javier Perea has appointed a citizens' committee to propose a code of ethics for the city.

The group held its organizational meeting Thursday (March 17) at city hall.

The group is charged with developing an ethics standard for elected city officials and employees and will eventually present to the council a proposal for a local ethics ordinance and standards. To do so, they will study model ethics policies and existing ethics standards in other cities, both in and out of New Mexico.

The committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month until their task is completed.

Members are: Margie Mark, David Reed, Jonathan Nettles and Erica Salas. Reed, editor and publisher of the Santa Teresa News,  was elected chairman of the committee. Scott Winton serves as a facilitator and liaison with Mayor Perea.