Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative General Manager Jerry Mascareñas said he will step down from his position at the end of this year after the Co-op’s board of trustees asked him to resign.
At the tail end of the Nov. 21 regular Board meeting, the Board went into executive session. During the session, Board member Robert Martinez said Richard Velarde, of Cuba, brought up his dissatisfaction with Mascareñas. Mascareñas said following the session, he was brought before the Board, which had taken a secret vote and decided to ask for his resignation.
“They wanted to move in a different direction, and I have no problem with that,” Mascareñas said. “It was a pleasure serving there.”
Martinez would not comment on specific complaints against Mascareñas, saying it is a “personnel issue.” Board members Manuel Garcia and David Salazar also said they did not want to comment, and Velarde referred any questions to Board President Johnny Jaramillo, who did not return calls requesting comment. The Co-op has also refused to provide minutes of the meeting until the Board approves them Dec. 18.
Mascareñas clashed with the Board in July, when he was suspended for three days over two purchases totaling $34 his assistant made. He said she mistakenly used the Co-op’s credit card for personal items and paid the Co-op back as soon as she realized what she did. Mascareñas gave her a written reprimand, but the Board decided he did not go far enough and suspended him.
He was brought on as “interim” general manager after The Board terminated Milo Chavez in a similar manner at the end of 2004. Chavez had served in the position for six years, and the decision to ask Chavez to leave was also made in closed executive session. Martinez said the Board sometimes acts on personnel issues in closed session to protect employees’ privacy.
“It depends on the situation,” he said.
Co-op Finance Director Ernesto Gonzales said the Board has asked him to replace Mascareñas.
“I was approached to serve as manager,” he said. “They wanted to hire internally.”
He is not sure what his first moves will be as general manager of Jemez.
“I’m still getting ready for it,” he said.
Mascareñas has served as general manager for four years, following Chavez’s dismissal.
“It was meant to be temporary,” Mascareñas said of his tenure.
However, Mascareñas decided to interview for the permanent position and was chosen to head the Co-op in February 2005. Prior to becoming general manager, Mascareñas said he worked for more than three years at the Co-op as a bookkeeper and information technologies specialist.
“I wish it would have lasted longer,” Mascareñas said. “We had more plans.”
He said he is not sure what his next move will be, but he would like to find a job locally.
According to Co-op documents, Mascareñas receives an annual salary of $108,652.
Gonzales started with the Co-op in early 2005. Previously, he said he spent 11 years as general manager of the Mora — San Miguel Electric Cooperative and 20 years with Kit Carson, 10 as general manager. He said he also served in the Marine Corps and graduated from New Mexico Highlands University with a bachelor’s in business and economics in 1971.