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Following the last Coffee with the Managers meeting in March where the possibility of the meeting being cancelled indefinitely was discussed by Grants City Manager Andrew Valencia and Interim Village of Milan Manager Candi Williams, County Manager Kate Fletcher discussed possible changes to the meeting and the struggles of working with the other entities. Courtesy Photo
GRANTS, NM – Cibola County Manager Kate Fletcher is working to try to revamp the Coffee with the Managers meeting following the discussion surrounding a possible indefinite cancellation of Coffee with the Managers at the last meeting in March.
At the March Coffee with the Managers meeting City Manager Andrew Valencia and Interim Village Manager and Finance Director Candi Williams asked members who were present what they think will entice more individuals to attend the meetings. They said that there had been some discussions surrounding the meeting and there was a consideration to cancel it indefinitely due to the lack of individuals attending the meeting.
Fletcher said that following the last meeting being cancelled, Valencia reached out to her regarding the future of the Coffee with the Managers. Fletcher was not able to attend the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances and it was the second time she was unable to attend. She said, “Andrew called me after the second time [I missed a meeting] and said that they felt that we’re not going to do the Coffee with the Managers anymore.”
Overall, Fletcher said she is unsure of why the other managers are not wanting to continue with Coffee with the Managers and that at the county level they have been working on ways to entice more individuals to attend the meetings and make it more beneficial.
Fletcher said, “I think it would be a might be a good idea to change a venue up, or change a time so that we get more people. My commissioners, they do not want me, not to do it, so I am going to do it. I just don’t know how we can advertise.” Some other changes that Fletcher has thought about implementing is possibly having pre- planned items to discuss which includes bringing in department heads to discuss the specific topic. Fletcher said, “But I don’t think the city likes me doing that, because I’ve had comments like ‘why do you bring other people?’ Well, I do it because they are the gurus of that department.” She also said that they want to figure out some other solution to avoid one manager going on a tangent. Fletcher said that she has been told that she talks too much and gives too much information at the Coffee with the Managers meeting.
She said, “I kind of slowed down and thought, they’re not telling the right information. It’s frustrating for me because that is very dangerous. You have to have the right information, if you don’t know it, don’t say it and if you do know it make sure you clear it up.”
Fletcher reiterated that because of this situation the county feels as if the city does not want to work with them.
Fletcher said, “I don’t think [The City of Grants and the Village of Milan] want to work with us. I’ve tried and I don’t know how to change that… I feel like there’s more walls coming up and I don’t know how to stop it.” She said, “[The City of Grants] has a lot of responsibility as a city…. We are stewards to the taxpayers. We hold their money and make sure we spend it the right way and I don’t feel like it’s the same mentality with the city.” Fletcher said that she realizes that they have been struggling with bringing people to the meeting, but she wants to work with both the City of Grants and the Village of Milan to find a solution on how to improve Coffee with the Managers. She said that the first step is to figure out how to promote the meeting and to possibly change the venue from the Coyote Del Malpais Golf Course to the Cibola County Building or another location.