Bosque Farms clerk resigns; infighting

BOSQUE FARMS — The upheaval within one local municipality is still ongoing, as the clerk/administrator steps down after a little more than a year on the job.

Michael Limon announced his resignation from the village of Bosque Farms on Monday, July 7, offering to make his last official day with the village Monday, Aug. 18.

Limon is the second clerk/administrator for the village in the last two years. Vernon Abeita spent nine tumultuous months with the village before resigning mid March last year. Limon came on board in April 2024.

Resigning wasn’t in his plans, but Limon said he hit a break point.

“The instability and infighting has really caused a delay in village operations. At this point, my frustration has grown to the breaking point,” Limon said. “We really need the council to band together rather than against each other. I feel like my departure can do that. They are at a fork in the road where they can regress back to last year or take this departure seriously and support the next administrator together and focus on the big goals and achievements they need to for the rest of the year.”

In his letter of resignation to the village staff and governing body, Limon laid out four critical concerns for his resignation.

The first being a lack of support and initiative from the council and certain tenured staff members in updating ordinances and policies necessary for the village’s growth and modernization.

His second concern is what he describes as ongoing violations of Article 3 of the New Mexico Constitution, which establishes the separation of governmental powers into legislative, executive and judicial branches, by Councilor Erica De Smet, “including direct harassment and breaches of confidentiality” and “who has repeatedly disclosed sensitive personnel matters on public platforms without consequence.”

Limon wrote there have been attempts to discredit his professional integrity and reputation through orchestrated public records requests and “defamatory narratives encouraged by some members of the public aligned with certain council members,” as well as a lack of trust in the governing body’s ability to act in good faith, and concern over potential retaliation for reporting these violations to the state ethics commission and New Mexico Department of Justice.

Also a significant consideration in the decision to resign was his family, Limon said.

“Given my wife’s health and my children, as much as I love being and hoped to continue being a clerk in New Mexico, in the eight-plus years I’ve dedicated to that, I’ve missed time with my kids and wife,” he said. “I would rather be known as a wonderful father and husband to my partner.”

Limon said he was extremely proud of village staff, particularly the water/wastewater department, which is on track to achieve its highest certifications since 2012 and having two certified municipal clerks working for the village — himself and deputy clerk Shaline Lopez.

“Any highlights are team highlights,” he said. “We’ve established standard operating procedures and proper chain of command so staff understands their scope of responsibility in local government. A high point for me was to give them stability and remind them how we function and serve the public.”

Getting funds dedicated to the right needs of the village, such as failing infrastructure and quality staff, was also a highlight for Limon.

For the next person stepping into the role of clerk/administrator, Limon advised they approach the village with a “clean slate and, by that I mean, in local government clerks are taught that not everyone’s opinion needs to be heard. I pushed back on that. You can learn from anybody. I would ask the next clerk to hear the residents, staff and council, and form an opinion and path forward that is beneficial for the greater good.

“They need to take the whole picture in. It’s very easy to focus on the direction of one elected official or one staff member. I would strongly advise them to hear everyone out and with that data, formulate their own path and try to do the greatest good for the village.”

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Limon did recommend Lopez be appointed as the next clerk/administrator, saying she was the “perfect candidate. If you sat she and I in a room for 24 hours and asked us to teach the other what we’re good at, she has the capability to learn what I know overnight. She just needs the support of the council to do that.”

While Limon has offered to stay on until Aug. 18 to help make the transition to the next clerk/administrator or interim as smooth as possible, he’s very aware that might not be the council’s desire.

“They can essentially tell me to kick rocks. One thing the governing body can do at the (July 24 council meeting) is terminate me immediately,” he said. “It’s up to them. They could handle a new appointment then or wait until August.

“My goal is to not impact any residents or staff. At other municipalities, I’ve always tried to leave in good standing and be respectful, no matter the reason for my exit. I’ve been on the other side, inheriting a disaster. It’s not fun and I’d like to avoid that for others, if at all possible.”