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SAN JUAN — The San Juan City Manager is back on the job following a one week leave of absence without pay, but the details surrounding what took place remain murky.
City commissioners went into executive session Tuesday evening to discuss City Manager Benjamin Arjona, who was placed on leave during the Sep. 24 city commission meeting.
Commissioners were in executive session for nearly two hours before reconvening at 8:17 p.m. and voting to approve 3-2 the agenda item pertaining to the city manager. Mayor Mario Garza and Commissioner Jesus “Jesse” Ramirez were the two dissenting votes.
After the meeting, Garza referred comments to City Attorney Rick Palacios who was vague regarding what exactly the commissioners voted on.
“As of right now, no other action has been taken other than the suspension that was issued a week ago,” Palacios said.
When asked if Arjona would be returning to work, Palacios said that he would be meeting with the city manager before making that decision.
“There’s some issues that we need to cover with him, and once we report to the council, they’ll make a determination as to whether or not he will continue with us or not,” Palacios said.
The city attorney said that he could not comment on what those particular issues are or what exactly the commissioners voted on during the meeting.
“I think the council that’s here are wanting to do right by the community,” Palacios said. “They’re wanting to address all these issues, not only with the city, but also to make sure that the city meets the obligations to the citizens also.”
After the meeting, Commissioner Marco “Markie” Villegas, who serves as mayor pro-tem, said that the city is following due process while deciding on Arjona’s fate with the city.
“We want to make sure that everyone knows that there’s due process and there’s things that need to be taken into account for,” Villegas said. “The problem here that me, and only me, myself has, I always look at the priors or any prior ramifications. Is there any prior write-ups? Has there been any prior probations? And there has been nothing, period.”
When asked for what exactly the commissioners voted on, Villegas said that the vote was, “to follow what was already selected.”
“The week has already gone by on suspension,” he said. “So now he comes back, and then from there, legal and HR come and then from there. But as far as the last agenda item, that was for suspension for a week. That happened. So we’re just — I’m making sure, on my end, that all the laws are followed and we’re doing the right thing, period.”
On Wednesday, the mayor confirmed that Arjona had met with Palacios and Human Resources Director Adelaida Cordero earlier in the day.
“The little that I know is yes, he’s back,” Garza said.
When asked if he had returned to his position as city manager, the mayor responded, “Yes. Up to this point, yes.”
