Board records split votes and tables action on extension of Melissa Astorga’s temporary appointment

After convening in executive session under the New Mexico Open Meetings Act to discuss limited personnel matters, the Board returned to open session and considered extending the temporary appointment of Melissa A. Astorga as Acting City Clerk and Acting Finance Director pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 3-11-6(B). The meeting record states the board took a roll-call vote recorded as "Vote (3-2) motion passes" on the extension. Trustee Daniel Barreras then moved to table the item; the minutes record the tabling motion and a subsequent roll-call entered as "Vote (2-3) motion passes." The sequence and tallies in the official record are internally inconsistent; the minutes show both an affirmative recorded result and a later tabling motion recorded as passing with a different tally.

Trustee Barreras said he voted against the temporary appointment because he believed the board should review an applicant’s qualifications, experience and background before approving an appointment. Trustee Genaro Soriano said he believed the meeting could have proceeded remotely and that additional discussion should have occurred before the board voted on the temporary appointment extension. MPT Jose G. Garcia clarified that the board had previously approved Astorga's temporary appointment and that the current action was solely to extend it in accordance with the City's approval process. The meeting record does not include an unambiguous final disposition explaining whether the extension remains in effect following the apparent tabling motion; staff follow-up is required to clarify the official status.