Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)
Copyright 2007 Albuquerque Journal
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. — Bernalillo County’s decision to put a former union leader in charge of the Fire Department is going to be expensive.
The county has agreed to pay $150,000 to longtime Fire Chief Bett Clark, according to a settlement obtained by the Albuquerque Journal. In return, she will accept a change in her job duties.
She keeps the title of “chief” but is no longer in charge of running the department.
The county last month appointed John Garcia - a former president of the firefighters union - to run the department. He was nominated by County Commission Chairman Alan Armijo.
Besides the $150,000, Bernalillo County will help Clark retire at least one year early by paying into the state retirement system for her. It isn’t clear how much that will cost the county.
The county also will “reimburse Ms. Clark for all annual and sick leave balances that she converts for purposes of retirement.”
The settlement says Clark will waive her rights to make claims under the federal Civil Rights Act and the state Human Rights Act. She had not filed a lawsuit, according to state and federal court records.
The county has said little about the change involving Clark, except that it was a mutual decision. In April, County Commissioner Deanna Archuleta said Clark had been a “fantastic chief.”
The county won’t discuss the settlement, which has a confidentiality clause. The agreement says Clark is not allowed to talk about it, either.
The county released the five-page agreement June 14 after a Journal request to inspect public records. Clark signed the settlement in April.
Clark said she couldn’t comment, except to confirm she and the county had reached a settlement.
The selection of Garcia to run the fire department was controversial.
Twenty people applied for the job, but Garcia was seen ordering a new uniform before he was appointed. He later canceled the order, but it led to criticism that he had been pre-selected for the job.
Garcia makes $72,000 a year. Before joining the county, he was a city fire lieutenant.
Clark, 42, is now heading a project to reduce fire-insurance ratings that affect premiums for homeowners in unincorporated parts of the county.
The settlement says she will complete the insurance project by the end of February.
Clark must retire as soon as she is eligible for full retirement benefits — believed to be March next year — according to the agreement. She will get the $150,000 when she retires.
Clark has been working for the county since October 1989, and firefighters are normally allowed to retire after 20 years.
The settlement says the agreement “is not to be treated or considered as an admission of wrongdoing” and it is “solely for economic and practical reasons.”