San Juan City Manager's job on the line

UPDATE: Still waiting for official verification about what happened last night at the special called meeting, but here's what we know so far through unofficial channels: After almost a three-hour executive session, the city commission voted 3-2, as mentioned might happen in the story printed below, to keep Arjona employed as San Juan city manager. However, from our sources, the job retention came with a list of more than 10 stipulations, with regard to what the commission wants the city manager to do differently moving forward.

Apparently, several members of the city commission already met with Arjona this morning, which still needs official confirmation, to discuss matters. When the city commission recovened Tuesday night, the 3-2 vote (the mayor and Commissioner Ramirez comprised the minority) was to approve "what was discussed in executive session," which could mean anything. However, based on several confidential sources, Arjona will keep his job. Printed below, the story written before Tuesday night's meeting:

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SAN JUAN — The job of San Juan City Manager Ben Arjona is apparently on the line, courtesy of a Special Called Meeting Agenda posted last Friday, which reads in part: “…Possible Action Regarding the Appointment, Employment, Evaluation, Reassignment Duties, Discipline, or Dismissal of a Public Officer or Employee, Specifically the City Manager.”

Also, there’s something the city council is going to discuss Tuesday with regard to last year’s Noche de Paz, as hinted to in the agenda posted Friday: “Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Legal Issues Concerning Entertainment for 2024 Noche de Paz.”

By the time this story appears in print Wednesday, Tuesday’s meeting will already have transpired.

Arjona’s Job

The city has yet to release anything official about why long-tenured City Manager Ben Arjona, hired approximately nine years ago, was placed on unpaid leave last Tuesday for one week.

Arjona also serves as the executive director for San Juan EDC.

Actually, it’s no surprise that the city hasn’t released info about last week’s move. No public entity places an employee on unpaid leave and then sends out a press release explaining why.

In this litigious age, no one wants to discuss any personnel matter(s).

With regard to Arjona, apparently an informal complaint was filed against him by a female employee for the use of profanity that she heard during a phone call with a third party.

Arjona said the words were spoken during a particular frustrating time, and wasn’t meant to offend anyone.

Besides the informal “profanity grievance,” which may or may not have anything to do with Tuesday’s meeting, there is another personnel issue allegedly involving two women, working with the city, who are distantly related to Arjona.

What the issues are there, hopefully the city’s mayor, Mario Garza, will be able to discuss following the special called meeting.

Although San Juan is three times the size it was in 1990 (total population), the city has still retained that small-town feel where people handicap the city commission majority and local political races like they do a Cowboys game.

That said, some people believe that Arjona has two commissioners who might still support him and allow him to retain his job:

“Neto” Guajardo and “Dina” Santillan.

Both of whom also serve on the SJ EDC.

The two who may pose the biggest threat to his continued employment include Commissioner “Jesse” Ramirez and the mayor, Mario Garza.

Meaning, the swing vote may likely be City Commissioner “Markie” Villegas, who is the EDC board president and has previously praised Arjona for his hard work and dedication to the city.