Belen City Councilor Wayne Gallegos, the previous city council’s mayor pro tem, was again elected mayor pro tem during the first meeting of the Jaramillo administration.

The former city council, which included councilors David Lopez and Terese Ulivarri, met first tonight to conclude its business and adjourn for the last time. Then the new city council met.

After the newly elected mayor and councilors were sworn in, Councilor Mary T. Aragon moved to have Gallegos elected as mayor pro temp. Councilor Jerah R. Cordova seconded. The vote was 3-0.

While the city council has four seats, one seat was vacated prior to the vote when Mayor Rudy Jaramillo was sworn in.

Jaramillo will likely nominate someone to replace him on the council during next Monday’s regular meeting, and the three city councilors will vote to approve or disapprove the nomination.

Tonight’s meeting agenda included a reorganization of city government — the appointment of an interim city manager, as well as a police chief, fire chief and airport director. Jaramillo, while still a councilor during the former council’s meeting, moved to strike the reorganization from the agenda.

Right now, the city manager’s position is vacant because former City Manager Sally Garley’s resignation took effect today. The other appointed positions remain filled by the Torres administration’s appointees.

This page was published on March 8, 2010 at 10:18pm and is filed under Politics.