BetterBelen.com

City manager job posting to be published

March 29, 2010

The City of Belen will this week begin publishing a job posting for city manager, the position now held by an interim city manager. On March 8, former City Manager Sally Garley resigned, leaving the position filled by Acting City Manager Mary Lucy Baca. According to the posting, getting hired to the position will require [...]

Belen cuts down on employees’ vehicle use

March 27, 2010

City of Belen employees will no longer be allowed to take home city vehicles, after the city’s acting manager yesterday sent a policy directive to all employees banning the practice. “City vehicles will be picked up when the employee comes in to work and returned at the end of the work shift or when emergency [...]

Mayor appoints chiefs, announces evaluations

March 22, 2010

Belen Mayor Rudy Jaramillo today nominated and won the confirmation for his appointees to the positions of police chief, fire chief and airport manager. Police Chief Mike Chavez, Fire Chief Manny Garcia and Airport Manager Robert Uecker retained their positions. Taking up each name one at a time, the city councilors voted unanimously to confirm [...]

Mayor, councilors attend training on state law

March 21, 2010

Belen’s mayor and the city’s three new councilors attended a New Mexico Municipal League training yesterday to learn what state law says about how a municipal government must operate. The training covered issues like how to organize a government, manage finances, conduct meetings and stay ethical. The conference room at the Marriott Pyramid in Albuquerque [...]

Medina wants a commission meeting in Belen

March 18, 2010

During tonight’s Valencia County Commission meeting, Commissioner David Medina called on his fellow commissioners to consider holding at least one meeting a year in Belen to make the commission more accessible to the residents of southern Valencia County. Belen City Councilor Jerah R. Cordova approached Medina with the idea two weeks ago after attending meetings [...]

Amended law stops some, not all, double dipping

March 17, 2010

An amendment to state law that halts double dipping for retirees hired for public jobs after July 1 will benefit Belen by saving the city money. Double dipping occurs when a government employee retires and later returns to work, receiving both a salary and pension. During to 2009 fiscal year, the City of Belen had [...]

Baca confirmed as acting city manager

March 16, 2010

The Belen City Council last night confirmed Mary Lucy Baca as the city’s acting manager until a permanent city manager can be appointed. The city council took the action because state law required Baca be confirmed by the council, even though she’s only an interim appointment. Baca received the full support of the city council, [...]

Memo: City reorganization complies with the law

March 12, 2010

A memo from Belen’s city attorney to Mayor Rudy Jaramillo says the city government is so far complying with state law during its reorganization. Legal concerns related to Jaramillo’s decision-making and the transition have been discussed internally at city hall throughout the week, with Jaramillo and councilors attempting to ensure the city is complying with [...]

Councilor to propose OMA violation fix

March 10, 2010

Belen City Councilor Jerah R. Cordova will propose a New Mexico Open Meetings Act (OMA) resolution for approval at Monday night’s regular city council meeting in order to bring the city back into compliance with the act. The City of Belen might be in violation of the state law because it didn’t approve a new [...]

Baca given management responsibilities

March 09, 2010

Belen Mayor Rudy Jaramillo has given the city’s human resources manager additional management responsibilities while the city government transitions to a new city manager. Mary Lucy Baca took on the additional responsibilities today at Jaramillo’s direction, as Jaramillo continues to consider an appointment to the city manager vacancy. “I have accepted only on the basis [...]