Otero County Leadership Intrusion into Alamogordo City Business, Ethical Concerns

Why is county government so deeply involved in city of Alamogordo leadership decisions? 

The Alamogordo City Commission and the Otero County Commission met, Monday in joint session for a discussion concerning the  the city leaving the city dispatch authority and a discussion concerning the potential selling off of a portion of the fairgrounds or possible relocation.

The meeting while not hostile, neither was it friendly. It was an attempt to allow all sides to "clear the air" on a few flash point issues around city management such as the dispatch authority split and the fairgrounds parking lot potential sale.

There has been friction for the last two years with the dispatch authority and its relationship with  the Alamogordo Police Department. Multiple errors in dispatch have been documented, personnel issues have become very public and the APD expressed, on multiple occasions, that their officers safety has been put at risk as a result. 

The meeting had a parade of speakers, of which insiders say, were recruited to speak in support of present leadership of the dispatch authority.

Regardless upon recommendation of the Alamogordo Police and Fire Chief and supported by the acting City Manager the city withdrew in a prior vote and the county awknowledged the seperation was moving forward.

The issues with the dispatch authority and between city and county government go deeper however. 

A further crux of much tension is due to county government commissioners and county leadership not "approving" of acting city manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez and her seeking the status as "permanent city manager."

It appears that Amy Barela in particular is concerned about Dr. Hernandez's role dating back to when the search for a permanent city manager began. The tension and campaign to prevent her selection has escalated ever since.

Mrs. Barela sent an email to mayor Susan Payne suggesting that her constituents had concerns with Mrs. Hernandez. The email was quite confusing, as it was sent from a private email account so one would assume Mrs. Barela was speaking as a private citizen? But then, she referred to constituents, which would then seem she was speaking as a county official? If so thus making it official, the county is concerned if the city potentially hired, Dr. Hernandez. Certainly an overreach of county officials authority if the letter was meant to speak as an official county statement.

City and county governments are distinctly separate eaxh with a distinctly different set of elected officials on purpose. The Alamogordo charter establishes a role for the power and authority of the city manager or "acting city manager." Internal correspondence within the county seems to question the authority and reach of Dr. Hernandez which is well outside their scope of authority and oversight.

Mayor Payne asked for a clarification on rather Mrs. Barela was speaking as a private citizen or a county official and stated that the "comments were noted," regardless.

Then, in another round of a series of blowups, the county manager Mrs. Heltner and the county attorney accused R. B. Nichols accused, Dr. Hernandez of mispronouncing the County Managers name of Heltner and calling her Hitler in a public meeting. The transcript does NOT reflect that accusation. No one on the city commission heard that statement and yet the county manager and county attorney demanded an apology for something that did not occur. In doing so would imply Dr. Hernandez was guilty thus she refused as it could taint her reputation.

A series of inflammatory emails went back and forth as follows...

Through all of this the selection process proceeded and the City HR department notified commissioners that Mrs. Hernandez and two other candidates made the cut to finalists.  

From there things get a bit fuzzy as there are allegations that county employees and commissioners were engaged in dialog with one or more city commissioners which crossed ethical lines. The city attorney became involved and the legal representation took the stance that at a minimum the process was tainted and that she must conduct an investigation legally. between the pressures from county officials, allegations of a mispronounced name blown out of context and further potential interference the city attorney and the HR department called a halt to the selection process. As such the HR manager sent a letter to the commission recommending that the city managers selection process be suspended immediately. 

So where does that leave the city now. Dr. Hernandez is continuing as the acting city manager. Another process may begin but speculation is it will occur after a new mayor and new commissioners are elected for a clean and clear slate. That has not been yet decided officially.

Specific to the accusations of mispronunciation of Mrs. Heltner as Hitler are determined by city leaders as "unfounded" thus no apology is warranted.

Specific to the breakup of the dispatch authority after the joint session collaboration between the county and city has further collapsed. The city was planning on operating its center on a shared platform which is a standard practice in such situations but due to perceived "hostilities" it would appear that is now no longer a consideration. As per the attached emails the saga continues...

Stay tuned to AlamogordoTownNews.org and KALHradio.org for more to come...

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