Clovis approves employee raises

CLOVIS — The Clovis city commission on Thursday night approved an update to its 2017 pay plan, which included raises for all city employees of at least 2% beginning in September.

Following a brief explanation by the city’s human resources department, the commission voted 7-0 to approve an updated employee classification and provide about $858,000 to cover the wage increases.

City Human Resources Specialist Erin Montano said the city established market rates for employees with a study of various other entities, include 10 cities in New Mexico and Texas, three counties and Clovis Municipal Schools.

Andre Moquin, the city’s HR director, noted the salary increases covered about $693,000 with other money largely going to various employee benefits.

Mayor Mike Morris and commissioners sounded their approval for the plan, with Morris noting the city has had issues with pay for the Clovis Fire Department and District 1 Commissioner Juan Garza saying increases were overdue.

District 1 Commissioner Leo Lovett credited department heads for finding ways to cut expenses during the first few months of the pandemic, and that created more opportunity for the city to give what he felt were necessary salary increases.

“I feel very confident that even with the uncertainty (about the pandemic going forward),” Lovett said, “financially we can do this.”

The changes do not affect City Manager Justin Howalt, who works through a contract with the commission, or the Clovis Police Department, which collectively bargains with the city.

All votes were 7-0 at the meeting. District 2 Commissioner Lauren Rowley attempted to participate by telephone but had connection issues before any voting transpired.

In other business at the Thursday meeting:

• The commission approved a change order to place a Wildcat logo on a storage tank that is part of the city’s effluent reuse pipeline system.

The million-gallon tank is located near the Clovis High School softball field, and Howalt said the city had an opportunity to show community pride. The 42-foot, 4-inch by 25-foot logo would cost about $23,000, but Howalt noted the current 1D phase of the project is running around $50,000 under budget.

The paint is expected to have a 20-year life, Howalt said, and he went through Clovis Municipal Schools to eliminate legal concerns with the logo. Kansas State University offers use of its Powercat logo to various high schools. The college used to offer the logo use for a token fee, but in response to a Friday inquiry Clovis Athletic Director Lonnie Baca said the cost is now about $100 annually.

• During the monthly investment report, Finance Director LeighAnn Melancon noted the city’s gross receipts taxes for the month were down 7% from the same time in 2019, but that the amount received was more than the city anticipated in its budget process.

Howalt warned commissioners in the upcoming month the city would see a substantial drop in GRT revenues from the same period in 2019, but that’s because the city received a one-time payment from a business settling up an account.

• Morris was appointed as a voting representative for the commission at the New Mexico Municipal League conference, scheduled for Sept. 2-4 virtually, with Commissioner Fidel Madrid as an alternate.

• Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes said the city was planning to issue three sets of surveys for a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area district near downtown Clovis. Surveys would be for the general public, residents in the district and business owners in the district.

• The commission had planned to honor Michael Bridges and Michael Castello of the Clovis Fire Department as its distinguished supervisor and line employee of the quarter, but the matter was postponed as they were responding to a call.

• The next meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Sept. 3 at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.