8/6/09
Chama Mayor Archie Vigil has fired three Village employees who were allegedly involved in a drunken brawl while at work, Village Councilors Billy Elbrock and Ron Russom said.
Village laborers Nathan Rivas and Luis “Popeye” Lopez and Village Streets Supervisor Jonathan Madrid, have been terminated for allegedly being involved in the July 2 fight.
Rivas, 29, reported that he was beaten by co-laborer Lopez, 23, and their boss, Madrid, at the Village Streets shed, according to a Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s deputy report. Deputies arrested Lopez but not Madrid, who reported he had intervened in a drunken fight between Lopez and Rivas, according to a deputy’s report.
“Archie fired all three directly (DATE),” Elbrock said. “I hated to see it happen, but it can’t be tolerated. The Council held a pre-termination hearing and recommended the mayor fire them.”
Elbrock would not discuss details of the terminations because they were raised to the Council in executive session, he said.
Only Madrid is appealing his termination, Elbrock and Russom said.
“He filed an appeal July 31,” Village Clerk Victoria Gonzales said Monday. “The Village has 45 days to respond to his appeal according to our policy.”
Vigil did not return calls for comment.
If the Village Council upholds the termination, that will probably be the final word, Elbrock said.
“The only recourse he has is to go to district court,” Elbrock said.
Lopez has alleged that Madrid purchased alcohol for Rivas and him the day of the brawl.
Lopez has beencharged with assault and battery on a household member, an apparent reference to the fact that Lopez and Rivas are cousins. Both men are related to Vigil, Lopez confirmed. Lopez was released on $2,500 bond. A date for his trial has not been scheduled, according to an online court records database.
Madrid, Vigil and Rivas could not be reached for comment.