City delays action on hiring new city manager

The Tucumcari City Commission on Thursday delayed action on hiring a new city manager and whether the city will be a part of unknown current or pending litigation.

The commissioners voted unanimously on the measure to hire a city manager and whether to pursue action related to mitigation. Both matters were discussed in a private session before the commission’s regular meeting Thursday. Commissioners voted to delay action to obtain more information on both matters.

On July 31, the commission met in a private session to interview two candidates for the position.

The commission adopted a document-retention policy, which City Clerk Angelica Gray called “long overdue,” that would allow the city to dispose of 50% to 70% of old records stored in boxes and add space in Tucumcari City Hall.

The new policy, Gray said, is being proposed to governments statewide in the absence of a statewide document-retention policy. The city’s new policy follows guidelines suggested by the New Mexico Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association, according to the text of the resolution.

Gray said she wholeheartedly supported the association’s suggestions.

The retention policy, Gray said, also would apply to emails and other electronic documents.

There will be consultation with commissioners and other city officials before records are destroyed, she said. That also would especially apply to emails.

District 5 Commissioner Todd Duplantis asked whether emails would be retained for a commissioner’s entire four-year term.

Gray said that was a matter that would be discussed with commissioners.

The commission also voted to add $8,250 to the $2.2 million contract with Mountain States Constructors Inc. for construction of new taxiways at Tucumcari Municipal Airport, none of which involves city funds. The added amount will cover the cost of signs to guide pilots using the taxiways, according to Ralph Lopez, the Community Development Department project manager for the project.

Somehow, Lopez said, “the signs were part of the plan for the taxiways, but they never made it to the bid specifications.”

The commission decided the change was needed after inconclusive discussion as to which party made the error.

Interim city manager Mark Martinez said the city had “cleared some trees and moved some debris” as a contribution to alleviating problems relating to flooding on property belonging to Tony Aragon, a Tucumcari farmer and rancher.

Martinez said he still thinks the main problem with flooding on Aragon’s property is due to faulty drainage ditches alongside Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Martinez said he is still trying to communicate with railroad officials about it.

Martinez also mentioned the work of Youth Conservation Corps crews in painting and “brightening” fixtures at city parks this summer. He said he had applied for $13,000 in federal CARES Act funds to cover the costs of additional personal protective equipment and other items to protect first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

District 2 Commissioner Paul Villanueva said he had received complaints about persons loitering on a lot on First Street.

Martinez said it is the duty of property owners to evict people from such property, but the lot’s ownership is currently “tied up.”

District 1 Commissioner Ralph Moya again brought up “Miss Kristy,” a dilapidated pontoon boat that has generated heated discussions among commissioners for at least two years. While the boat has been moved off a street where it had plagued drivers, Moya said the boat has not been destroyed, nor has the owner been prosecuted.

Duplantis said he was confused about the city’s direction with the matter, but said abandoning the boat was a “criminal act.”

Martinez said the city and New Mexico State Parks officials still are trying to locate the boat’s owner.

When the owner is found, Duplantis said, “We need to add storage charges.”

District 4 Commissioner Chris Arias said $400 million had been set aside in Quay County for low-interest loans to help businesses deal with shutdowns and slow business due to COVID-19.

Loans are available up to $75,000 each he said. More information, he said, is available on the New Mexico Finance Authority website at https://www.newmexfinance.com.

Arias said he had attended a meeting of the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority, and the city should push for a new joint powers authority agreement because “some entities who were in the agreement have pulled out.”

Tucumcari, he said, should make sure it receives it full allowance of water under the agreement for the remainder of the year.

Arias also recommended the idea of renegotiating the joint powers agreement should “remain on the table.”

Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield mentioned another “squatter” problem with non-owners occupying property near Monroe Street and Turner Avenue. The non-owners, she said even are installing a new sewer line.

“We should use the nuisance law” against that situation, she said.

Litchfield also said the community should “keep teachers and administrators in mind” as they face a tough year with remote learning.