Mancos Town Administrator Andrea Phillips has resigned after four years in the position.
Phillips turned in her resignation letter Monday, Mayor Queenie Barz said Friday. Phillips’ contract as administrator was up for renewal in April, but the board of trustees decided to go in a different direction, Barz said.
In a voicemail to The Journal, Phillips said the board chose a different direction after her yearly evaluation last week. She said the transition was amicable.
“We’ve done a lot of good work here in the last four years, but it was time,” she said.
She said she wished the town the best of luck moving forward.
Town Clerk-Treasurer Heather Alvarez was appointed as interim administrator after Phillips’ departure at an emergency town meeting Wednesday, Barz said.
Alvarez said the staff works extremely well together and will keep moving forward. She said she was sad to see Andrea leave the position.
“I was very sorry to see her go,” Alvarez said. “She’s very good to work with.”
Town staff and board members will work together in the next few weeks, Alvarez said.
“Everybody’s going to pitch in and do what they can,” she said.
Phillips was hired as administrator in April 2013, following former town administrator Tom Yennerell.
Phillips moved to Mancos from Columbus, Ohio.
Barz said it was Phillips’ decision to resign. There was no one specific project or issue on which the board differed from Phillips, she said.
“There is nothing really negative about this,” Barz said. “There are some changes needed, we visited with her about it and she chose to resign.”
The board will spend some time thinking about the job description before advertising for a new administrator, Barz said.
Barz said projects the town has planned will go on as scheduled.
“We wish her the best,” Barz said of Phillips.
“The board and staff are going to be working close together as a team in the interim. There are some things we need to work on.”
In her letter of resignation addressed to Barz and the board of trustees, Phillips thanked the “hardworking and dedicated” town staff members and volunteers who helped out on boards and commissions.
Phillips highlighted several achievements during her tenure, including passing policies regulating livestock and accessory dwelling units.
She said the town had secured millions in grant funds to address infrastructure needs.
“Mancos is on the move, and it is a wonderful small town with a bright future,” Phillips wrote in the letter. “I feel fortunate to have worked with all of you over the past four years. I wish you all the best of luck in the future.”
jacobk@the-journal.com