Village of Taos Ski Valley administrator departs
Mayor moves to fire planning director
John Avila, administrator for the Village of Taos Ski Valley, has resigned.
In a move that took the small resort village — and some key officials — by surprise, Avila will become the village administrator for Ranchos de Albuquerque, an area north of Albuquerque along the Rio Grande known historically for agriculture and contemporaneously for wealth.
Champion car racer Al Unser, Jr. once lived in the semi-rural municipality, where the family’s race car museum was also once sited.
Avila was the ski valley’s administrator for over four years, during which time he oversaw several major projects, including water and wastewater improvements.
“My role at VTSV afforded me a new wealth of experience as a municipal administrator,” Avila said in a statement to the Taos News. “Serving the VTSV community, the renowned ski resort and its guests with our wonderful VTSV employees and Village Council has enriched me, and I endeavored to leave it better than I found it. It is extremely difficult for me to back away from the work the Village has ahead, to reach the tipping point for a revitalized infrastructure and reliability of services.
“I’m proud of the way our community came together to handle emergencies,” Avila continued. “From the unexpected water delivery issues and natural events, to the pandemic that brought tragedy to our team with the loss of Chief Sammy Vigil. Our staff supported his family and other coworkers that became ill. But the larger community working together managed safe, successful visitor experience and operations, and our efforts were a big part of that.
Avila added that he and his family will miss the natural beauty and arts in Taos.
“We loved our time in the community, getting to know the people, the rich natural and artistic environment,” Avila added. “Few know that Taos is ancestral land to me and living here has moved me more than I expected. I leave with a heavy heart. As everyone looks to add new experiences and challenges to build their skills, so I look forward to that opportunity with the Village of Ranchos de Albuquerque. I wish all unity and prosperity ahead.”
Village of Taos Ski Valley Mayor Chris Stanek notified his fellow officials of Avila’s departure last Friday (April 12) in an email.
“John has done a herculean job in his role as Administrator during some notably difficult times — and he is leaving very big shoes for us to fill,” Stanek said in the email. “While I will miss his expertise and commitment to the ski valley, I’m excited for John and his new adventure in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque.”
Stanek, who took office on Jan. 1, told the Taos News in a separate email that he is “grateful for John’s years of dedicated service to the Village of Taos Ski Valley and wish him well in his next chapter. The Village Council will convene on Friday with the aim to identify an acting administrator to serve in that role while we conduct a thorough search for a permanent administrator.”
Avila’s departure, a specific date which Stanek did not provide, leaves the village with no top manager. The village has lacked a public works director for several months, and, according to the agenda for Friday’s (April 19) regular Village Council meeting, it could soon lack a planning director.
Some residents and officials speculated over the weekend that Planning & Community Development Director Patrick Nicholson would be an obvious choice to fill Avila’s shoes, at least in the interim. This week, however, word spread that Nicholson had been placed on paid administrative leave and was instead fighting to keep his job.
An item on Friday’s (April
19) agenda indicates the village council will discuss and consider “to approve mayor’s request for personnel action terminating an individual’s employment with the village,” which the Taos News confirmed is in reference to Nicholson.
Stanek did not respond to a request for comment as to why he is contemplating firing Nicholson.