Garley named state’s Clerk of Year

Belen

“City Clerk of the Year for the state of New Mexico is … Sally Garley of Belen.”

These are the words Belen City Manager and Clerk Garley heard with surprise when she was named Clerk of the Year by the New Mexico Clerks and Finance Officers Association.

“This is indeed an honor,” Garley said of the award presented at the state organization’s conference on April 24-26 in Tucumcari.

The purpose of the award is to identify and recognize a member of the Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association who has made an enhancement to the clerk’s own community or municipal government, made a significant contribution to the objectives of the association and has advanced the municipal clerks’ profession and the promotion of municipal government in New Mexico.

Belen Mayor Ronnie Torres nominated Garley for the award. “We are very proud of Sally,” Torres said. “We are thrilled that the state organization is honoring her.”

Torres was among two carloads of friends who traveled to Tucumcari to surprise Garley when she received the award. Joining him were Councilors Jeff Trembly, Teresa Ulivarri and David Lopez; Belen Police Chief Paul Skotchdopole, Barbara Torres, Ruth Lopez, Raul Sedillo, Henry Narvaez, Mary Lucy Baca and Henry Garley.

Garley has been employed by the City of Belen for 30 years, beginning as a secretary. Since then, she has held numerous positions with the city, including purchasing officer, city clerk and assistant city manager. She was named city manager last year.

She continues to hold the position of city clerk, which she has been for the last 14 years.

Garley has served in a variety of community and social organizations, such as the Belennium 2000 New Years Celebration, the annual National Night-Out Program and others.

She co-chaired the city’s annual Nativity Sale-A-Bration to raise money for the renovation of the historic Belen Harvey House.

Garley has been active in the New Mexico Clerks and Finance Officers Association for 20 years. She received the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation in 1992 from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

The New Mexico Clerks and Finance Officers Association is a subsection of the New Mexico Municipal League, a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing all incorporated municipalities in New Mexico. The League’s headquarters is in Santa Fe.

Jane Moorman