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Taos council members sharply criticize mayor's staff email; council seeks resolution on leadership concerns
Summary
Several Taos council members criticized a February email sent by Mayor Maestas that they said admonished directors and misstated council action; the council asked the manager and town attorney to prepare a resolution for future consideration.
Several Taos council members used the March 25 meeting’s "matters from council" segment to criticize an email the mayor had circulated in February that admonished council and directors, saying it mischaracterized actions and created discomfort among staff.
Council remarks and manager response: Councilor Ortega said the mayor’s email was “unacceptable” and accused the mayor of inconsistent standards for contacting staff. Other council members, including Councilor Oswald and Councilor Fernandez, called the email disrespectful to staff and the manager and said it relied on unconfirmed information. Manager Lupe Martinez said she had contacted the mayor after a meeting because she was surprised by a report that conversations had occurred in executive session; Martinez said she had met with an outside official thinking they would discuss a grant application and instead learned of a separate concern, which prompted her to call the mayor.
Legal and procedural context: The town attorney (Ms. Nixon) told council there is no formal statutory process under the town code for a vote of no confidence but that councils have in the past adopted resolutions to express no confidence; she said that if the council wished to pursue a resolution, staff could prepare the appropriate document for a future meeting. Several council members requested that the manager prepare a resolution for consideration; one councilor explicitly asked the attorney to prepare a draft resolution for a future agenda item.
Why it matters: Councilors said the email and the manner it was delivered undermined staff morale and the council’s collective decision‑making. Several members urged improved communication practices and respect for the roles of management and department directors.
Next steps: The town attorney said she would prepare an appropriate resolution if directed; council members asked for the resolution to be drafted and placed on a future agenda. No formal vote of no confidence occurred at the March 25 meeting.
