You're unfired: Columbus NM Mayor reverses termination of works director

COLUMBUS – One of two village employees fired by Mayor Esequiel Salas earlier this month has been placed on administrative leave instead.

Robert Gomez, Public Works Director for the small border village, received a letter of termination from Salas on March 15, less than a week after the Mayor had been sworn in. Gomez subsequently filed a formal grievance with the Village, alleging he was dismissed without cause.

An undated letter obtained by the Headlight, on village letterhead and addressed simply to “Mr. Gomez,” states, “Upon consultation with our village attorney, please disregard my March 15, 2018 letter to you. You are a full-time employee subject to the Village of Columbus Personnel Policy.”

Gomez is not back on the job, however. The letter states that Gomez is being placed on administrative leave over alleged misconduct, including prohibited political activity, favoritism among employees under his supervision, and unspecified harassment of employees.

The letter of termination, previously obtained by the Headlight, also states that the position of Public Works Director is being eliminated.

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Gomez’s attorney, Jessica Mendez of El Paso, told the Headlight the mayor's allegations are without merit. “[Gomez] has been an employee with the village for over 20 years with a very exceptional record, and this is the first time that his work performance has ever come into question,” she said.

Gomez would be eligible for retirement in 4 years, and Mendez says he wants his job back.

Instead of pursuing a formal grievance, Gomez now awaits a pre-determination hearing following an internal investigation. Mendez said she did not know how long that process might take.

"We’re still very confused about what’s going on there,” said Mendez.

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Mayor Salas caused a stir in the village when he fired Gomez and Municipal Clerk Cindy Varnhagen during his first week in office. Salas was elected Mayor on March 9, after serving a four-year term as Trustee.

At the first council meeting of his administration on March 21, the meeting hall was packed with residents, many demanding the employees’ reinstatement and heckling the mayor throughout the meeting.

The personnel matter was inadvertently included on a public agenda that was revised one day before the public meeting, a move that caused confusion among the trustees during open session. Salas blamed the irregularities on the former clerk.

Jessica Mendez is also representing Varnhagen, who had served as clerk since the beginning of Mayor Philip Skinner’s administration in 2014. Varnhagen previously told the Headlight she suspected her dismissal was political payback for her friendship with the former mayor, but she also admitted to tense interactions during the two business days she worked with Salas.

Varnhagen has not filed a formal grievance or sought reinstatement, although Mendez believes the village’s personnel ordinance applies equally to her. The ordinance states, “An employee notified of suspension, demotion or dismissal shall be entitled to a pre-determination hearing before the Mayor and/or a member of the Board of Trustees and the Village Clerk.”



Unlike Gomez, Varnhagen has not received a letter reversing her termination.

Mendez described the different handling of the cases as puzzling. “We would like to know, why was Mr. Gomez put on administrative leave while Mrs. Varnhagen was fired without a pre-determination hearing equally available to all village employees?” she said.

Mayor Salas did not respond to queries for comment about the terminations or the elimination of the Public Works Director position.

Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2608) or adammassa@demingheadlight.com.

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