LAS CRUCES, N.M. — It would be hard to break the new Las Cruces mayor's prohibition against closed door meetings in his City Hall office. There isn't a door to close.

Removing the door from the mayor's office was one of Bill Mattiace's first official acts upon taking office in March.

Now, anyone can walk into the mayor's office to chat if he's available. Mattiace said the policy has been working.

"It's definitely a literal example of my intent to promote open government," Mattiace said.

But he admits it took a little time to get used to the no-door policy. Several people didn't want to meet with the mayor unless it was more private.

He said one developer who came into the office looked for a door to close, saying he had something private to discuss with Mattiace.

"I told him there wasn't any door, and if he really needed to say it then he could go ahead and say it without a door," Mattiace said. "He left, and I heard him muttering, 'There's no door, there's no door.' "

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