Albuquerque mayor and city council dispute over paramedic staffing costs taxpayers nearly $1 million
By T.J. Wilham, Jason McNabb
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ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KOAT) — A year-long dispute between Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and the city council is costing taxpayers big money, and it’s all about your safety.
Target 7 has learned the argument started nearly a year ago over who decides the number of paramedics on fire trucks. It has resulted in lawsuits, nearly $1 million in legal fees, and the city council president is now calling for an investigation into the city attorney, which could lead to her dismissal.
The argument began when Albuquerque Fire Rescue wanted to put a paramedic on every engine truck, which is the workhorse of most fire departments being, the first unit to arrive on scenes.
The plan would require removing a paramedic from rescue trucks, which look like traditional ambulances and typically carry two paramedics.
Keller and the fire chief supported this plan, but the fire union opposed it, advocating for maintaining two paramedics on transport-capable units while training more paramedics for fire engines.
The city council sided with the union, passing an ordinance to keep two paramedics on rescue trucks, opposing the mayor and fire chief.
“It’s a clash of competing separation of powers issues,” said KOAT Legal expert John Day. “If you’re a lawyer, it is fascinating. If you are a regular citizen, it just sort of highlights government efficiency at some level or inefficiency.”
In an unprecedented move, Keller sued the city council, creating a conflict for City Attorney Lauren Keefe, who represents both parties. Consequently, both sides hired separate legal counsel, each spending $400,000.
“When you have a mayor’s office and city council fighting with each other. Of course, a lot of money is going to go into the lawyer’s pockets,” Day said.
City Council President Brook Bassan, who initially sided with the mayor, sponsored an ordinance for an investigation into Keefe, citing concerns that the city attorney might be assisting the mayor in the lawsuit against the council.
“I believe that we’ve at least spent probably a million dollars of taxpayer money on this lawsuit alone, where the mayor is suing the city council,” Basan said. “We ended up finding some other information that indicated to me and gave me reason to believe that the city attorney is helping the mayor sue the city council.”
Basan’s proposal, if passed, could lead to Keefe’s dismissal.
“I am implying that this is the first step to consider removing the city attorney from the position,” Basan said.
Keefe was offered an opportunity for an interview. Instead, she sent a statement.
“I take my ethical duties very seriously. As soon as this dispute arose, I informed council that I had a conflict and could not represent it. I then ensured that the city hired well-qualified lawyers to represent the interests of all parties, including city council,” the statement read. “While I am not representing any party, I have received updates on the ongoing proceedings. These actions were not only appropriate, but I had a duty to do so in order to ensure the interests of the city were protected.”
AFR has implemented its paramedic plan in five out of 23 stations, with two other stations having paramedics on traditional fire trucks due to the absence of rescue units. Recently, AFR sent 24 firefighters to paramedic training to increase paramedic availability on more trucks.
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