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Special Council Meeting <br />March 26, 2020 <br />Page 2 <br />Mayor Clifford and said if the progression of this virus continued, the United States would need <br />1 million ventilators. Council Member Portugal stressed the importance of social distancing too. <br />Mayor Clifford said if the community does not get behind the efforts that Paris would not stay <br />ahead of this virus. Council Member Stone said her biggest fear was that the younger generation <br />was not taking this serious. She encouraged people to call the police when they saw gatherings <br />of ten or more people. Council Member Knox said this was serious and because Paris did not <br />have the outbreak that other cities did, that people were not taking it serious. <br />Mayor Clifford said there was no question that there were other people in the community <br />that were positive and that the City of Paris could end up with a complete lockdown. Mayor <br />Clifford said he was inclined to go with the Commissioners Court on this, but the Council had <br />the power to order a lockdown if they decided to do so today or at a later day. Council Member <br />Portugal said she felt they should continue to monitor the numbers and if those increase, that <br />they could come back with something stronger. Mayor Clifford said if the County comes up <br />with more restrictions, his intention would be to do the same. <br />A Motion to extend the Declaration for thirty days and to amend their Declaration to <br />adopt the County's Declaration, was made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council Member <br />Portugal. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. <br />4. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2020-012: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY <br />COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, ORDERING THAT THE GENERAL <br />ELECTION SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2020, TO ELECT <br />ONE (1) CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO DISTRICT 2; BE POSTPONE TO <br />TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2020; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS <br />RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. <br />Mayor Clifford said Governor Abbott gave permission to municipalities and school <br />districts to postpone their elections to November. He also said if they passed this, Council <br />Member Hughes would stay on the Council through the November election. Council Member <br />Hughes said he was willing to do that. Council Member Portugal said she felt like it would <br />impact the voter turnout out and favored postponing it to November. Council Member Stone <br />said she agreed with the Governor's recommendation. Council Member Knox said they should <br />err on the side of caution in keeping citizens safe, and she favored the November election. <br />Council Members Pilgrim and Hughes also favored the November election. <br />A Motion to postpone the election to November was made by Mayor Clifford and <br />seconded by Council Member Knox. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. <br />5. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2020-013: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY <br />COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS; APPOINTING BENNY PLATA TO <br />FILL THE CITY COUNCIL VACANCY IN DISTRICT 3 AND TO SERVE AS <br />COUNCIL PERSON FOR DISTRICT 3 UNTIL MAY 2, 2020; MAKING OTHER <br />FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING <br />AN EFFECTIVE DATE. <br />