DAC Commissioners decide not to take action on county manager’s contract

Dona Ana County Commissioners were set to discuss County Manager Julia Brown’s contract Tuesday, but after some debate, commissioners voted 3-2 to remove the item from the agenda.

Commissioners still discussed a personnel matter involving Brown in closed session, but they decided not to take action afterward.

In September, commissioners voted 3-1 to extend Brown’s contract for another three years. The contract also gave Brown a pay raise. Her pay will be $142,000 for the first year, $154,000 for the second, and will bump up to $168,000 her third year.

Her recent contract extension had many attending Tuesday’s meeting questioning why her contract was up for discussion.

Some county residents wore stickers that read “I’m with her: County Manager Julia Brown.”

During public input, some residents said it didn’t seem reasonable to make any decisions on Brown’s contract when over half of the commissioners were just recently voted on the board and haven’t had a chance to work with her.

Commissioner John Vasquez, Isabella Solis and Ramon Gonzalez were voted onto the board this past November.

It’s unclear if and when her contract will be up for discussion again.