Grants: The City Without a Manager

GRANTS, N.M. – A crisis has unfolded at Grants City Hall leaving the city without a manager and a ticking timeline to approve a new person to the position.

Accusations have been levied across the city about the reason for City Manager Donald Jaramillo’s termination. With uncertainty abounding, the city is finding difficulty in appointing a manager, which is grinding city operations to a halt because the Grants City Charter denies the mayor or any city councilor from directing the work of any city employee, even when the city is lacking a manager.

Jaramillo’s Contract is Terminated

A contentious meeting of the Grants City Council was held on July 26 where these decisions were made. The meeting was gaveled to order, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and councilors began their work. The agenda presented to councilors had an item at the opening of the meeting to declare that Thursday shall be, “City Manager Appreciation Day.” Before any meeting begins, the council has authority to amend the agenda, they could add, remove, or change items so long as a majority of councilors agree to the change. Councilor George Garcia voted to move this item to the end of the meeting after an executive session that would address the manager’s contract.

Two hours and six minutes into the meeting, after numerous presentations and questions about funding projects, the city council voted to enter executive session to discuss Jaramillo’s contract. The council emerged roughly 15 minutes later; Mayor Garcia had his hands covering his face.

In a hushed tone, barely audible with the microphones in front of him, Mayor Garcia called for a vote to bring the council back into public session. After that, Mayor Garcia called for discussion over the manager’s contract.

“I have nothing further to discuss, I would like to make a motion,” Councilor Beverly Michael said. Mayor Garcia moved on from Michael, asking each of the councilors individually if they had anything to discuss, they all indicated they did not. “I make a motion for termination of the city manager’s contract as an at-will employee of the city without cause,” Michael said.

The motion was seconded by Councilor Fred Rodarte. The vote was called, Michael, Rodarte, and Councilor Garcia voted in favor of terminating the contract, Councilor Gutierrez said, “big heck no” as he voted against the termination. Silence filled the room after his comment. The shuffling of keys, clicking of pens, and moving of chairs are all that could be heard.

To view this meeting yourself, visit the City of Grants Facebook page and look for a post inaccurately titled, “City Charter Advisory Committee Meeting”, click on the video that is two hours, 41 minutes long.

Townhall and Special Meeting

Addressing the absence of a manager, Mayor Garcia called a special city meeting with a townhall to let citizens discuss the situation. The special meeting was going to ask the council to reappoint Jaramillo to the position.

The townhall was held at the Cibola Senior Citizens Center in Grants at 7 p.m. Around 35 residents participated, only two government body members, Mayor Garcia and Councilor Gutirrez were present. In order to hold a legal meeting, a quorum – or majority – of elected officials must be present. Jaramillo did not attend the townhall, telling the Cibola Citizen he would not beg for his job back. No meeting was held, but a townhall with only a few speakers continued.

What Happens Next?

Section 3.06 of the Grants City Charter lays out the process when there is a vacancy in the city manager’s office.

First, Mayor Garcia had five days to appoint an acting city manager, according to the city charter, the appointee must be a city employee.

Mayor Garcia had asked Grants Human Resource Director Michelle Maes, but she agreed temporarily because she had taken time off for a vacation and cannot continue as acting manager. According to the mayor, she said that she will not do the job for too long because she also needs to do her job and the two together are an overload. To prepare for her vacation, the mayor wanted to appoint Grants Fire and Rescue Firefighter Andrew Valencia, but because of family health issues he declined.

On August 8 in the morning, Mayor Garcia met with Maes to discuss next steps. According to the mayor, every city employee he asks to take the position declines the offer. Now that Maes goes on vacation, Mayor Garcia starts again, giving him five days to appoint an acting manager.

An acting manager can serve for no longer than 30 days, giving the mayor time to find an appointment for the position and for council to approve the appointment. If they were to deny the appointment, the timeline would start over.

Why Was Jaramillo Fired?

Mayor Garcia claims council fired Jaramillo because of a deal over the community pantry which cost the city at least an additional $750,000. Mayor Garcia said the budget was unaffected by this mistake because of increased revenue this year.

Some councilors claim that Jaramillo was fired because he withheld information and deceptively presented information to councilors that led to the mistake occurring over the pantry building.

Councilor Michael addresses the termination on Page A4 of today’s edition. The Cibola Citizen is actively working to gather all of the details on the termination and the mistake that cost at least $750,000 at the pantry.