Regents approve architect contract

PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico University regents didn’t waste time Monday during a special meeting, taking just six minutes from open to close on an architect selection.

Regents voted 4-0 Monday in a virtual meeting — Terry Othick, Lance Pyle, Dan Patterson and Joseph Gergel — to accept Dekker/Perich/Sabatini as the architect for the university’s renovation of the Roosevelt Science Hall.

The regents had voted 3-2 against the same move three Fridays ago. Regents raised no issues with the firm, but voiced disappointment the $926,667 contract had already been signed by Vice President of Business Affairs Scott Smart — despite policy 55-1 requiring regent approval for any contract exceeding $500,000.

Smart said during the Nov. 13 meeting he had no intent to go around the regents, and mistakenly believed the contract was under the umbrella of the board’s prior approval of the overall $15 million project.

None of that was brought up Monday, as the motion was made by Patterson and seconded by Pyle without discussion.

The total contract, including $334,907 in unexplained extra services, is $1,261,574.

The regents’ next meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 11.