Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
PORTALES — The Portales City Council met briefly Wednesday morning, mostly via teleconference, and passed emergency measures similar to those passed by other area governmental bodies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
The resolution, passed 8-0 in a 10-minute meeting, declares Portales an emergency area. The resolution has two impacts — making the city eligible for state and federal funds associated with the pandemic and giving City Manager Sammy Standefer latitude to alter city policies as needed while dealing with pandemic issues.
Similar measures have been passed by the Clovis city commission and both the Roosevelt and Curry county commissions.
“This thing has been moving fast,” City Attorney Steve Doerr told commissioners. “There are a lot of things that need to be implemented. As this changes, it may require the manager to enact policy, rules and regulations. That will always be brought back to you at the next meeting.”
Doerr said councilors would be updated when such decisions are made.
Council members had no issues with giving Standefer the latitude.
Councilor Oscar Robinson, noting he obviously wishes no harm on anybody, asked what the protocol would be if Standefer ended up hospitalized himself. Doerr ventured that Standefer would recommend somebody else to fulfill his duties, and the council would be asked to approve that selection or seek a different solution.