The Route 66 Association of New Mexico warned last week about an “invalid” election of its board of directors apparently being held by its former president.
Also, a copy of approved minutes of the association’s March 9 meeting obtained by Route 66 News bolsters its claim that President Melissa Beasley-Lee resigned from the association, which she has denied.
The association posted on Facebook on April 16 about a board election that it called “invalid.”
An invalid online election is currently being held on the website. Please be advised that our elections are always held in November and our bylaws do not allow for the removal of all current board members.
Please help us spread this information.
It is our sincere wish that the situation be amicably resolved.
The post also stated the association was seeking to regain control of its website “and other assets.”
The association’s social media post was prompted by an email sent April 15 reputedly by the association, stating that elections for the board end April 25.
A link from the email to the association website elections page reveals Beasley-Lee as one of the candidates, plus a slew of entirely new candidates.
Association interim president Vicki Ashcraft said last week the election on the website is illegitimate, as they are not held until November.
Beasley-Lee did not comment in an email from Route 66 News that asked about the alternate board of directors candidates.
Beasley-Lee also has set up an alternate page for the association on Facebook, which the association has warned about.
Minutes from the March 9 association meeting, approved during a subsequent meeting, contain numerous details, including Beasley-Lee and husband Mike Lee’s apparent resignations from the board.
Among several items, the board approved a conflict of interest policy and disclosure form that will be reviewed annually and discussed a proposed financial controls policy.
Later during the meeting, longtime association member Johnnie Meier talked about Beasley-Lee’s open letter that criticized the state’s newly formed Route 66 Centennial Coordination Group for its lack of association representation. The letter led to a follow-up story by Route 66 News and the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper.
Meier questioned the wisdom of such a stance from Beasley-Lee. The Route 66 centennial group plans to award millions of dollars in grants for varying projects. Meier, who has a history in grant-writing, feared such antagonism would hurt the association’s chances of landing such funds.
The meeting minutes then state:
This led to very unprofessional behavior and language from Mike Lee and Melissa Beasley-Lee resulting in them presenting two separate packets of information to the Board regarding the Tucumcari Neon Project as well as calling for the resignation of the Association Preservation Officer Johnnie Meier. Both Mike Lee and Melissa Beasley Lee angrily stated that they were resigning from the Board of Directors before leaving the meeting.
The Board will hold a special meeting the following week to address the situation and identify a plan for moving forward.
The association announced later on social media the Lees’ resignations had been accepted. Ashcraft noted last week the association’s bylaws do not require resignations in writing to be accepted.
An open-records request to the Route 66 Association of New Mexico to obtain the meeting minutes and the Lees’ ultimatum regarding Meier initially was rejected, stating the association is not a public body.
“Additionally, the NM Route 66 Association is currently addressing internal organizational issues that may possibly result in litigation or adjudicatory proceedings,” the association’s email stated. “In due time, and as recommended by legal counsel, the NM Route 66 Association may provide additional communications in the coming weeks/months.”
Route 66 News obtained a copy of the March 9 meeting minutes from a source who asked to remain confidential.
Forwarded a copy, Beasley-Lee stated in an email the minutes are “incorrect.”
“I can also confirm there is a lot information missing from these minutes, notably mine and Mikes actual statements,” she stated.
Ashcraft said the association has held official meetings almost weekly, proceeding carefully while seeking to resolve the dispute.
(Image of a New Mexico Route 66 shield by Thomas Hawk via Flickr)