Las Cruces City Manager Terrence Moore (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Las Cruces City Manager Terrence Moore, whose personal and professional actions have come under heavy scrutiny by the city council and others in recent months, announced today that he’s resigning at the end of the year.
Moore said in his resignation letter that it is time to “pursue other professional opportunities.” His resignation followed a five-hour closed session at which the city council discussed his employment.
Moore gave no further explanation in the letter except to say that two major construction projects – a convention center and an aquatic recreation center – will be complete by the end of the year. Reached by e-mail, he also declined to comment further.
Moore’s letter says his decision comes after “a great deal of reflection.” It states that he appreciates “the support and opportunity to grow both personally and professionally while serving this wonderful community.”
Mayor Ken Miyagishima, who has defended Moore in recent months, said in a news release that it’s a “bittersweet” day.
“In all my years of public service, Terrence Moore is the best manager I have had the pleasure of working with,” he said. “I remember when we first hired him, I only expected him to be with us for three to five years because someone with his caliber is highly sought after. I’m glad he’s staying on until December to see the completion of the aquatic center and the convention center. I wish him the best.”
The council met behind closed doors several times in recent months to discuss adding “performance objectives” to Moore’s contract. That followed scrutiny by some councilors, NMPolitics.net and other media organizations of two work-related issues:
• Earlier this year Moore reimbursed the city for some costs associated with two business trips he took last year – after a complaint was filed over one trip and an attorney requested documentation about the other.
• Moore also had his administrative assistant babysit his children on Dec. 21 – while she was on the clock and being paid with public money – so he could attend a city council meeting.
Moore has also been under scrutiny because of an ongoing law enforcement investigation into two incidents involving him and his ex-wife – one surrounding injuries Moore’s then-wife suffered in late 2008 and the other involving a police report the city manager filed over a prescription-drug incident in January 2009.