City council approves interim city manager amid controversy

November 05, 2024 | Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico


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City council approves interim city manager amid controversy
In a recent city council meeting, members voted to approve the interim appointment of Randy Randall as city manager, with the motion passing despite some dissent. Councilor Michael Garcia cast the sole \"no\" vote, expressing concerns about the impact of reallocating staff from critical positions, particularly in the Community Development Department, which is currently facing staffing shortages and vacancies in affordable housing.

Garcia emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate staffing levels to ensure that essential services continue to function effectively. He stated, \"I don't believe that we should be pulling staff from critical positions... I just think we need to really work on filling positions versus pulling positions.\"

In contrast, Councilor Castro supported the interim appointment, acknowledging the temporary nature of the role and encouraging qualified candidates to apply for the permanent city manager position. \"If this takes a little bit longer than we had anticipated, I imagine that we'll be here again,\" Castro remarked, indicating a willingness to revisit the decision if necessary.

The meeting also included a brief discussion regarding comments made by a councilor in a local publication, which led to a procedural interruption as some members sought to clarify the context of those remarks. The council's focus remains on navigating staffing challenges while ensuring effective governance during this transitional period.

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    Scribe from Workplace AI
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