Nogales housing board appoints Terry Ibarra interim executive director

The Nogales Housing Authority Board of Commissioners voted July 7 to appoint Finance Manager Terry Ibarra as interim executive director while the authority recruits a permanent director, after current interim Maritza Cervantes said she cannot commit full time before starting a new job later this month.

The appointment is intended to maintain program operations and HUD compliance during an ongoing audit and the recruitment period, board members said. The board also approved interim compensation aligned with the current executive director salary and discussed arranging on-call consulting support from Cervantes if needed.

Cervantes told the board she has two weeks before beginning a new position and "unfortunately, I cannot commit full time to an interim position." She said she was willing to "help and provide support on a part time basis or maybe even on a, as needed basis," but emphasized a lasting concern about "segregation of duties when it comes to HUD and finance." Cervantes identified Terry as the department finance manager and said procedures would be needed to ensure compliance if Terry were to take on broader responsibilities.

Commissioners repeatedly said the housing authority has managed previous interim arrangements. "I don't see a problem," Commissioner Montiel said, noting prior instances where different individuals signed or supported financial actions during staffing transitions. Several commissioners urged clarity on what support the interim would receive from the city manager and the city attorney's office.

Commissioner Doyle said the city manager's assent should be confirmed because the manager's staff and authority have traditionally supported the housing authority during interim periods. Legal counsel also noted the commission carries authority for appointing the housing director while the city manager can provide operational support and consult with legal counsel on specific issues.

Board members discussed additional safeguards: maintaining clear purchase-order and signatory procedures so that finance duties remain segregated, having the city manager or law firm resources available for federal compliance questions, and the possibility of a short-term, paid on-call contract for Cervantes to provide advice during the recruitment period. Cervantes said she begins a new position on July 30 and that an on-call arrangement "on a need-to-need basis" would be acceptable if it does not conflict with her new job.

The board directed staff to post the executive director position internally for five days before opening the recruitment externally, according to remarks during the meeting. Commissioner Barra moved to appoint Terry Ibarra as interim executive director "until we get a full time executive," and the motion was seconded. The board approved the motion by voice vote; the chair announced, "All in favor? Aye. All opposed? Motion passes."

The board asked staff to coordinate the interim compensation and any consultant contract with the city manager and legal counsel, and emphasized continuity of HUD reporting and audit responses while the interim is in place. The recruitment timeline and the details of any consultant agreement were not specified at the meeting.

No other formal actions or formal vote tallies were recorded in the public transcript for this item.