Ruidoso Downs City Manager John Waters, who has been with the city since September 2001 and elevated to manager two years ago, has quit and was cleaning out his desk last Friday, the Ruidoso News reported.

And he was nowhere to be found when Ruidoso Downs held its first council meeting Monday with newly elected Mayor Tom Armstrong and two new councilors, Gary Williams and Rene Olivo, who were elected on March 4, the News reported.

"He's resigned, and that's about all I can say about that," Armstrong told the paper after Monday's meeting. "The position is open, but we're still trying to get our feet under us. I've only just taken office."

Waters, who was making $77,000 a year, was unavailable for comment, the News reported.

Waters was serving as city administrator before the council gave him the new title of manager, with a higher salary and more autonomy to hire and fire, two years ago, the paper said.

And Ruidoso Downs' ordinances require the city to at least have an administrator, City Clerk/Treasurer Carol Virden told the News.

Armstrong said a decision to name a new administrator won't be made at least until next week when he and other officials have had a chance to re-evaluate the position, the News reported.

The mayor said it's possible that duties can be farmed out to other city personnel and an administrator may not be needed at all, the paper said.

According to the News, Waters applied for similar positions in Hobbs and Carlsbad while working for Ruidoso Downs. 

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