The city\u2019s controversial El Paso Zoo director, Joe Montisano, has resigned after being on administrative leave since September.<\/p>\n
Montisano was placed on administrative leave<\/a> mid-September after he was involved in a slew of controversies in recent years. Gary Lunsford is serving as interim until a permanent replacement is hired.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can confirm that Joe Montisano is no longer with the City of El Paso. He resigned,\u201d Laura Cruz-Acosta said in an emailed statement to El Paso Matters. \u201cWe want to take this opportunity to wish Mr. Montisano the best in his future endeavors.\u201d<\/p>\n The job will be open for recruitment, Cruz-Acosta said. As of Friday morning, the position is not posted on the city\u2019s Human Resources website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Montisano could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n Montisano was hired in 2019. During his six-year tenure, he was involved in multiple controversies, including a contentious separation from a former nonprofit that supported the zoo, the loss of its Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation and a wrongful termination and sexual harassment lawsuit by a former zoo employee.<\/p>\n The city plans to reapply for the reaccreditation after completing capital projects.<\/p>\n