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RIO COMMUNITIES—Several essential Rio Communities’ employees have recently resigned or are on paid administrative leave.
Rio Communities City Manager Martin Moore said while he understands why people are leaving, and hopes the best for them, he admits it’s difficult to recruit and retain employees to city government positions.
Mayor Joshua Ramsell said he believes the city is at a crossroads, saying Rio Communities has grown in personnel and services they’re offering to the residents.
Roy Hubbard, who was appointed as Rio Communities municipal clerk and treasurer in December after working as the city’s chief financial officer for several months, resigned his position in June.
“This has been a difficult decision, but after much consideration, I have concluded that I must step down due to ongoing and increasing health issues,” Hubbard wrote in his resignation letter on May 20. “These challenges have made it difficult for me to dedicate the time, energy and focus that the responsibilities of this role require and deserve.”
Hubbard’s last day with the city of Rio Communities was June 6.
“It has been a privilege to serve the city and its residents, and I am truly grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the professional relationships I’ve built during my tenure ...,” Hubbard added.
After Hubbard’s resignation, the city council voted to appoint Moore as the acting city clerk, and approved a motion to retain the services of Beasley, Mitchell & CO., LLP not to exceed $45,000 to assist with the city’s finances.
The city also lost it’s economic development consultant, Ralph Mims, who had been on contract with the city for several years. Mims, who retired from the village of Los Lunas, formally ended his contract with the city of Rio Communities on June 30. His contract was set to expire at the end of July.
In his letter to Moore, Mims wrote he wanted to concentrate his efforts on his “personal residential and humanitarian projects in the Eastern Caribbean. I have several projects coming up in several months that will require extensive travel.
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“... it was a pleasure to work with yourself, City Councilors Gordon and Apodaca and Zoning Commissioner Jim Winters. I wish Rio Communities continued growth in the future in the residential and economic development sectors.”
The most recent resignation the city received was from Lalena Aragon, the Rio Communities deputy clerk. Aragon’s June 26 letter of resignation informed the mayor, city manager and council that her last day would be Monday, July 7.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that I have been given as the deputy clerk for the past (three) years,” Aragon wrote. “It was a hard decision as I love our community and residents in our community.
“Unfortunately, there comes a time when I have to think of myself and my family and put us first. I have given 150 percent to the city and have dealt with a lot of turmoil and it has affected my family and my health.”
In February, the council approved the elimination of the second deputy clerk position and established the human resources coordinator position, which was filled by the person who was the second deputy clerk. That person resigned in the spring to take a job with Isleta Pueblo, and the position has not been filled.
According to Moore, Rio Communities is currently looking for a finance officer and a municipal clerk. He said they did hire a front office receptionist, who, he says, has some government experience. That person was scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
Moore did say he was confident they will be able to hire qualified people to fill the positions they have open.
“It’s not easy, but the people of Rio Communities are worth it,” Moore said. “If I’m working a few extra hours a week, I’m OK with that.”
Ramsell said while everyone had their own reasons for leaving the city, he admits working in government has a lot of stress.
“There’s a lot going on,” the mayor said. “It may seem to some people that we’re a small town, but a lot of stuff is happening outside the agendas and meetings. As an organization, we try to be as open to change as we can and, at the same time, we’ll try something out if it’s good ... and if not, then we’ll pivot.
“We never want to be in a position where we have to reduce services,” Ramsell said.
The mayor did say Moore is looking at restructuring the city’s organizational chart, and working to be more fiscally responsible while providing the best services for the community.
“Are we going to be a community with less staff and higher wages, or more staff with competitive pay and get more things done,” Ramsell said. “It’s a tough decision. How do we maintain staffing levels and competitive pay? How we spend the taxpayer money? Grants consume a lot of staff time. Our staff is pretty amazing considered all that they have to do.”
Moore said he would be more concerned with the recent resignations if they hadn’t planned for “significant turnover.” The number of city staff has grown from six to 35 since the beginning of the year, with the addition of full-time firefighter and EMS positions, public works and in the police department.
Moore, who acknowledges the city is going through growing pains, said it hasn’t been easy for city staff in Rio Communities, saying there has been some friction in the last year and a half.
“It’s stressful,” the city manager said on Monday afternoon. “There’s a differing philosophy on the council and it does make it’s way down to the staff, creating a difficult atmosphere for employees.”
The city manager and mayor placed also Rio Communities Police Chief Felix Nunez on paid administrative leave.
At a special council meeting on May 5, the council unanimously approve a new, three-year contract for Nunez for $87,000 a year salary, and a $7,000 match from the law enforcement protection fund.
The chief was placed on leave on May 13, and the council has been discussing a complaint against Nunez in executive session since.
When the News-Bulletin asked Ramsell on May 28 why the chief had not been in the office, he wrote in a message, “He had a medical procedure done.”
Chief Nunez did confirm to the News-Bulletin that evening via text message that he was healthy and had not undergone a medical procedure, and had actually been placed paid administrative leave. The chief wouldn’t go into details about the administrative action or the complaint.
When asked why he didn’t tell the News-Bulletin when asked where the chief was, Ramsell said, “I just didn’t do it. We can’t divulge what happened because it’s an investigation. I was not trying to mislead you in anyway, I was just telling you he had a medical procedure done.”
Both Ramsell and Moore told the News-Bulletin Chief Nunez told them he had a medical procedure done after he was placed on leave.
When asked last week about the chief’s employment status and the nature of the complaint, the city manager didn’t give much details.
“The chief of police is on administrative leave pending an investigation and that he is still currently an employee in good standing with the city,” Martin wrote in an email to the News-Bulletin. “As far as complaints go, those are matters being investigated but no documentation as of yet; as well as any interviews and investigative reports, so there are no records for the city to release at this time.”
Moore said the investigation, which was conducted by Universal Investigations in Albuquerque, has been completed and was presented to the council in executive session Monday.
“I will recommend to the council to do what’s best for the chief and best for the city,” Moore said. “I just want to make sure they’re fair.”
In the meantime, RDPD Sgt. Jose Rodriguez and office manager Emma Sanchez are “holding down the fort” and managing the “day-to-day operations of the police department,” he said.
Moore said the council will make a decision regarding Nunez at the next city council meeting, which is scheduled for July 14.
