ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A new city policy has Albuquerque city councilors butting heads with administrators.

Dr. Samantha Sengel, the city’s chief administrative officer, sent a letter to councilors and their staff last month, saying all requests, questions and inquiries should go through a centralized email address to “ensure nothing falls through the cracks.”

Sengel said it’s in response to an ordinance councilors passed in 2024 regarding administrative Q&A.

“It’s good business to make sure you know what’s you’re being asked, so that you can be responsive and timely,” Sengel said.

Council President Brook Bassan sees it differently.

“That is a violation of the separation of powers. The administration and the mayor do not get to direct City Council or their staff on how to operate,” Bassan said.

So far, Bassan said the protocol has had the opposite effect. She said she’s had to wait for days to get answers to simple questions she used to clear up in hours.

“I think Albuquerque needs to know that their government is not operating as efficiently as it should be because of some of the policies set in place and the lack of information provided,” she said.

Bassan said the delay in information is happening for a myriad of things, from restriping a crosswalk to potential multi-million-dollar city contracts. They all affect everyday people.

“I don’t want to do my job for them with my eyes shut. I was elected to do this with my eyes open,” Bassan said.

Bassan isn’t the only city councilor who feels this way. Councilors Dan Lewis and Renee Grout expressed their feelings during their meeting Feb. 3.

“It’s not good business, not good communication, not good constituent help. It’s really pretty silly,” Lewis said.

“I think there’s a lot of micromanaging in this policy. I understand what you’re trying to accomplish, but I don’t think it’s working,” Grout said.

Sengel told KOB 4 she’s not backing down.

“We’re not holding back information, we’re not reducing the amount of information available. We’re ensuring that we’re getting both accurate information. And we know when things are cropping up and becoming an issue in terms of trends,” Sengel said.

Bassan said she’s not afraid to exercise the powers she has as city council president – if need be.

“If the administration is not going to be able to have their employees show up to advocate and give information, then I will, at this point, not put these bills on an agenda until we do get answers,” she said.

Sengel had something to say about that.

“I find that surprising. That would be really unfortunate for us to not do the work that the city and our community is expecting us to get done,” she said.

They will all be in the same room at the Albuquerque City Council meeting next week.