COMMUNITY

Alamogordo City Manager resigns

Nicole Maxwell
Alamogordo Daily News
Former Alamogordo City Manager Maggie Paluch, Alamogordo City Commissioner Nadia Sikes and City Commissioner Susan Payne at the regular Alamogordo City Commission meeting Jan. 29.

Alamogordo City Manager Maggie Paluch submitted her resignation Feb. 15 effective on that day.

"The city wishes Ms. Paluch well and thanks her for her many years of service to this community and its citizens," the news release read.

A special meeting set to discuss Paluch's contract scheduled for Friday evening was canceled.

"I called the special meeting in order for the commission to discuss the concerns of the citizens and concerns that I have and that they might have had," District 5 Alamogordo City Commissioner Al Hernandez said.

"It takes two commissioners (to call a special meeting) there was a second commissioner, and they seconded on calling the meeting and things just went on from there. Maggie submitted her resignation and we'll accept it at the next meeting. The terms of her contract have allowed us to do that."

Hernandez said that he would like to thank Paluch for her services and wished her well in her future endeavors.

Alamogordo residents called for Paluch’s suspension or termination following the suspension of Alamogordo Police Chief Brian Peete.

Peete was suspended for 10 days in January following the submission of a letter he sent to Alamogordo Mayor Richard Boss and the city commission in December.

“Months ago, I have spoken to the city manager with concerns of her behavior, and the behavior of the city attorney, as it relates to unprofessional relationships with subordinate employees, how those relationships affect perception and that they have given rise to allegations of preferential treatment,” Peete’s letter dated December 21, 2018 states.

Peete returned to work Feb. 4 after a spirited city commission meeting on Jan. 29 wherein about 300 or so people showed up to support Peete.

Peete was not in attendance at the Jan. 29 meeting.

City Commissioner Josh Rardin who offered no comment on Paluch's resignation; he noted the issue as a personnel issue.

Susan Payne, City Commission for District 3 said, she was sorry to see Paluch go.

"I'm disappointed. I thought she was a phenomenal manager and I'm really disappoint and I think that ... she did a lot of amazing things for this city, and I have no doubt that what she does in the future she is going to be great at it," Payne said.

"And I think we're losing a phenomenal manager, that's what I have to say about that."

Calls to Alamogordo Mayor Richard Boss and other city commissioners were not answered.

Paluch was named city manager in July 2017.

Prior to that, she was hired as the assistant City Manager in February 2016 after the August 2015 death of assistant City Manager Matt McNeile.

Previously, Paluch spent five years as the Alamogordo Public Housing Authority manager.

The City of Alamogordo has had three city managers in the last four years.

In August 2015 former City Manager Jim Stahle resigned.

Then former City Commissioner Dr. George Straface was appointed interim City Manager in October 2015. Straface resigned in May 2016.

Paluch stepped in as acting City Manager at that time until she was named permanent city manager in July 2017.

The city commission will discuss the appointment of an acting or interim city manager at its Feb. 26 meeting.