GRANTS, N.M. – The City of Grants has been without a manager since November 18, on January 3 at a special city meeting, a contender for the manager’s position, Vanessa Chavez, formally withdrew her name, citing the damage internal turmoil has done to the city. The short city meeting led to no action at all being taken by the city council except for the opening and closing of the meeting by elected officials. Unlike the last special city meeting where three city councilors did not show up, every single councilor was present at the Jan. 3 meeting.
Mayor Martin “Modey” Hicks opened the Jan. 3 special city meeting by announcing a change to the meeting agenda. Initially, this meeting was called with the intention of putting Vanessa Chavez up for rehire as city manager, two other items were added to the agenda: An investigation into the city council on how they decided to file a lawsuit against Mayor Hicks in 2020; and an investigation on why the city had to sell $1 million in assets to cover expenditures. As the meeting opened, Mayor Hicks asked for consent to strike the manager’s position from the agenda, saying she withdrew her name because she recognized the damage and delays the internal turmoil over the next city manager was creating.
The appointment of a manger was completely struck from the agenda, with no new choices put forward. According to the City of Grants Charter, only the mayor has appointment power, and only the council has approval power (Section 3.02 of the Grants City Charter). With only two items remaining on the agenda, both of which would have triggered investigations into the Grants City Council if approved, the council sat mostly silent. Both of the items were motioned by Councilor Erik Garcia, which means that the item can be voted on if it receives a second by another member of the council. Neither of Councilor Garcia’s motions received a second, meaning they both died and nothing came out of them. This meeting was then adjourned with nothing happening at all.
The next Grants City Council meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2022 at 6 p.m. at the Grants City Hall 600 W. Santa Fe Avenue.