Section 3-27-6 - Judicial examination, approval and confirmation. - New Mexico Statutes

3-27-6. Judicial examination, approval and confirmation.

In their discretion, municipalities through their respective governing bodies, may file a petition at any time in the district court in and for the county in which such municipality is located, praying a judicial examination, approval and confirmation of contracts authorized by Section 3-27-5 NMSA 1978. The petition shall set forth the facts whereon the validity of the contract is founded and shall be verified by an appropriate official of the governing body. The action shall be in the nature of a proceeding in rem, and jurisdiction of all parties interested may be had by publication and posting. The court shall fix the time for the hearing of the petition and shall order the clerk of the court, under the seal thereof, to give notice of the filing of the petition, stating in brief outline the contents of the petition and showing where a full copy of any contract therein mentioned may be examined. The notice shall also state the time and place fixed for the hearing of the petition, and that any owner of property, or any resident, within the limits of the municipality, or any person interested in the contract or in the premises, may at any time, prior to the date fixed for the hearing or within such further time as may be allowed by the court, appear and move to dismiss or answer the petition. The notice shall be served by publication once each week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county wherein the case is pending, and by posting the notice in the office of the clerk of the municipality, at least thirty days prior to the date fixed in the notice for the hearing of the petition. Jurisdiction shall be complete after the publication and posting. Any owner of property, or any resident, within the limits of the municipality, or any person interested in the contract or in the premises, may appear and move to dismiss or answer the petition at any time prior to the date fixed for the hearing or within any additional time as may be allowed by the court, and the petition shall be taken as confessed by all persons who fail so to appear.