Swearing-in postponed for clerical error

A planned swearing in for new Planning and Zoning members failed to materialize Wednesday, following the Clovis City Commission’s decision to readvertise three vacancies over a clerical error.

The advisory body has three terms that will begin in November that are currently held by Carolyn Spence, Terry Moberly and Jonathan Wilson. Only Spence reapplied for her position.

During the city commission’s meeting last week, Commissioner Tom Martin referenced the error and asked to postpone the matter.

“If I understand correctly, we advertised that there were two vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Commission, when in actuality there are three vacancies,” Martin said. “So, I would move to postpone this item until the next commission meeting on Oct. 20. Because of the fact we only advertised for two, I would also ask we reopen the application process to allow others to apply.”

Only three people applied for the vacancies — Spence, George Jones and Shawn Burns.

The item was approved unanimously — 7-0, as the commission has its own vacant seat following the Sept. 30 resignation of Bobby Sandoval. But there was discussion on the necessity of advertising again, since the city received enough applicants to fill the vacancies.

“I do understand the importance of being correct, with the three positions versus the two,” Commissioner Sandra Taylor-Sawyer said. “However, all three of these positions are open positions and they’re not by district ... regardless if it was two or three positions — I mean it was open. And so anyone could have applied. I don’t know what type of hardship that’s going to place on the Planning and Zoning Commission.”

City attorney David Richards said the three vacancies are not credential specific.

“The makeup of Planning and Zoning does include a representative of the utilities, but none of these (available) positions fit into that qualification,” Richards said. “They’re open seats, not districted or otherwise restricted.”