Alamogordo City Commission Meeting Agenda Packed with Key Decisions March 10 Public Comment Encouraged

Alamogordo, NM – March 7, 2026 – The Alamogordo City Commission will convene its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 6:30 PM MDT in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 1376 E. Ninth Street. Amid ongoing debates over leadership and transparency, the agenda includes a closed-door executive session addressing both the hiring of a permanent city manager and pending litigation (Case D-1215-CV-2022-00434), with potential votes on these matters upon reconvening in open session. The city manager search, now down to two candidates—Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez and external candidate Theogene “Theo” Melancon—following the withdrawal of David A. Vela, continues to draw scrutiny as interviews wrapped up in closed sessions from March 3 to 6.

The executive session, held under Sections 10-15-1(H)(2) and (H)(7) of the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, will cover limited personnel matters related to the city manager hiring and the unrelated pending litigation. Commissioners are expected to take action, if any, on both topics in public following the closed discussions, potentially resolving the drawn-out selection process.

The detailed agenda, reflecting a broad range of city operations and community investments, begins with standard proceedings and includes significant financial and developmental items. Highlights are as follows:

1. Call to Order and Roll Call – Led by Mayor Sharon McDonald.

2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance – Opening ceremonies.

3. Approval of Agenda – Vote on any adjustments.

4. Presentations – An update from the Alamogordo Police Department on the ACOMM Center (Dispatch), presented by Police Chief David Kunihiro and ACOMM Manager Hilton Chapman.

5. Public Comments – Residents can speak on any issue for up to three minutes each, with the mayor reserving the right to adjust time limits. This is a prime opportunity for community input on transparency, the city manager search, or other concerns.

6. City Manager’s Report by the City Commission – Remarks and inquiries from commissioners, filling the gap left by the absence of a permanent manager.

7. Consent Agenda (Roll Call Vote Required for Ordinances or Resolutions) – Routine items considered en masse unless pulled for discussion:

• Approve minutes from the February 24, 2026, Regular Commission Meeting and Special Meetings on March 2, 3, and 4, 2026.

• Approve statements certifying compliance with the Open Meetings Act for the executive closed sessions of the March 2, 3, and 4 Special Meetings.

• Accept the Investment Report for the quarter ending December 31, 2025, per the City’s Investment Ordinance (presented by Finance Director Evelyn Huff).

• Accept a $200,000 grant from the New Mexico Department of Finance & Administration to purchase and install a columbarium at Monte Vista Cemetery (Debbie Osbome, Grant Coordinator).

• Accept a $550,000 grant for constructing a building at the Alamogordo Family Recreation Center (Debbie Osbome, Grant Coordinator).

• Accept a $1,064,700 grant to purchase and equip body cameras for the Alamogordo Police Department (Debbie Osbome, Grant Coordinator).

• Adopt Resolution 2026-07 requesting approval from the State of New Mexico’s Local Government Division for revised Fiscal Year 2026 budget numbers (Evelyn Huff, Finance Director).

• Adopt Resolution 2026-08 authorizing submission of an application to the New Mexico Department of Transportation Project Fund for the South Florida Avenue Construction and Drainage Project (Jimmy Vargas, Public Works Director).

8. Items Removed from Consent Agenda – Any pulled items discussed separately.

9. New Business:

• Consider appointing a board member and alternate to the Southeast Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SERPO) (Rachel Hughs, City Clerk).

• Consider appointing a board member to the Southeastern New Mexico Economic Development District/Council of Governments (SNMEDD/COG) Board (Rachel Hughs, City Clerk).

10. Executive Session (Roll Call Vote Required) – Recess into closed session for discussions on limited personnel matters (city manager hiring) and pending litigation.

11. Reconvene into Open Session (Roll Call Vote Required).

12. Action, if any, Related to Limited Personnel Matters – Potential vote on city manager appointment.

13. Action, if any, Related to Pending Litigation – Any decisions stemming from the lawsuit discussions.

14. Adjournment.

These items emphasize investments in public safety (e.g., police body cameras and dispatch updates), infrastructure (e.g., cemetery and recreation center projects), and economic planning through grants and board appointments, totaling over $1.8 million in potential funding.

The meeting arrives amid heightened controversy over the city manager search, which has exceeded two years and incurred substantial costs in recruitment and interim roles. Allegations of factionalism, “good ole boy” insider dynamics, and power plays have damaged the commission’s reputation, with polls showing approval ratings at a 20-year low. Commissioners Josh Rardin, Steven Burnett, and Baxter Pattillo face the lowest trust levels among elected officials in over a decade, prompting questions about their fidelity to public will. The recent appointment of Al Rardin against the will of a majority of polled voters in district 5 led by the Rardin, Burnett Pattillo factions have led to citizen asking questions concerning recall initiatives and charter amendment considerations to reign in a perceived abuse of power and neglect of the people’s will. 

Citizens are strongly encouraged to attend and utilize the public comments section to demand greater transparency on executive session outcomes—within legal bounds—and to urge a conclusive end to the divisive, expensive city manager process and an end to factionalism and distrust per recent polling. Active participation could help rebuild credibility and ensure governance prioritizes community needs over internal conflicts.

For the full agenda packet and documents, visit: https://alamogordonm.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3002/files/agenda/3855

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