City of Sunland Park to fire City Manager?

The City of Sunland Park will discuss possibly terminating its City Manager during Tuesday’s city council meeting.

“It was pretty much a surprise when I found out about it,” City Manager Vernon Wilson said.

Wilson says he was shocked to find out his termination was on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting.

Wilson has worked for the city for a year, he was hired in December of 2013. Wilson acknowledges differences with city council members.

“They have their ideas, I have my ideas and we may not have meshed quite like they wanted to,” Wilson said.

Wilson says he doesn’t know of anything major that would lead to this. It’s familiar territory. Council discussed terminating him last April, after just four months on the job, but nothing was ever decided.

Sunland park has been plagued by issues in the past and Wilson says the city has made significant improvements since he’s been on the job. Finances are in order and the city is no longer monitored by the Department of Finance and Administration.

“After six months they believed we had everything under control,” Wilson said.

Councilor and Sergio Carrillo wouldn’t say why his termination is up for discussion, but several council members have had issues with Wilson.

“The process was very slow in a lot of things we asked for,” Carrillo said.

Wilson says those differences play a small part in the overall picture. He just wants to keep his job.

“We’ve made improvements and I want to be a part of the future,” Wilson said.

Councilor Carrillo tells Abc-7 though Wilson is under a three-year contract, they meet every year to discuss renewing it. Wilson says he does not recall that being part of his contract.