The Albuquerque City Council will have more say in terminating a police or fire chief after voters passed an amendment to change the city’s charter.
Voters also approved a city charter amendment to create a process for filling vacancies on a three-member committee that resolves disputes between the mayor and the council.
According to unofficial results from the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office, voters approved both ballot questions by 62% as of 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“Passing these amendments to our charter shows an overwhelming desire for a more accountable mayor and police chief,” Council President Dan Lewis said.
The amendment allows the council to fire a police or fire chief without cause on a 7-2 vote. Police and fire chiefs would have an employment agreement with the city, which the mayor could terminate with cause. The council, however, would be able to fire a chief without cause.
Councilor Louie Sanchez, a frequent critic of the Albuquerque Police Department and Chief Harold Medina said he thinks both amendments “give extra checks and balances.”
“I think it’s important that we, as city councilors, have an opportunity to weigh in in reference to the police chief and the fire chief,” Sanchez said. “If we have a police chief or a fire chief that’s not doing their job, we should be able to act on those issues, because it’s an issue of public safety.”
Separation of powers amendment
The second charter amendment on the ballot will set a process to ensure vacancies on a committee that resolves disputes between the mayor and council are filled in a timely manner.
The amendment requires the mayor to appoint one member of the intragovernmental conference committee 30 days before the preceding appointee’s term expires or immediately after the appointee resigns. The city charter already requires the council to appoint another member. Those two members are required to appoint a third member to serve as the chair.
According to the amendment, “if either the mayor or City Council fails to name a replacement committee member within 60 days of vacancy, the other body shall make the appointment.”
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