Commission OKs 3-year contract with Hayoz

The Tucumcari City Commission approved a three-year employment agreement with incoming city manager Renee Hayoz during a special meeting last week.

Commissioners on Dec. 17 approved the deal, effective on Jan. 1, after a closed executive session of about 1 hour, 40 minutes with Hayoz, the current assistant city manager who is succeeding retiring city manager Paula Chacon.

The Quay County Sun wasn't able to obtain a copy of the contract before deadline. However, Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Lopez read aloud key portions of the document during the meeting.

Hayoz will be paid $90,000 a year plus fringe benefits offered to other city employees. She will receive an additional $5,000 when the city gets caught up with its annual audits, Lopez stated.

If Hayoz resigns, she is required to give the commission 90 days of written notice so she can train and consider a replacement.

Hayoz's position is considered at-will, which means she could be removed and her contract canceled at any time.

However, the contract contains a clause where she would receive a buyout of 120 days in pay if she is removed.

Lopez made the motion to approve the contract, and Commissioner CJ Oglesby seconded it. The vote to approve it was unanimous.

After the meeting, Hayoz declined to comment on the matter, except to say, "I'm glad we were able to negotiate a contract."

The commission in November selected Hayoz as the next city manager from two other candidates.

Hayoz served as District 4 commissioner from late 2023 to July 2024, when she resigned to apply for the assistant city manager position that she won.

The commission in September appointed Clayton Thorne as District 4 commissioner to fill Hayoz's seat. He will serve the rest of the term through 2025.

Hayoz previously was an administrator of the Quay County Family Health Center in Tucumcari for several years.

Hayoz also was a clerk for the villages of Roy and Mosquero in Harding County and held other positions at the Pueblo of Sandia, Bernalillo County's Department of Substance Abuse Programs and New Mexico State Police.