Normal’s council considers granting special powers to mayor, city manager in COVID-19 fight

Posted on March 20, 2020
Normal’s special meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday. (Photo courtesy: Chris Koos/Facebook)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

NORMAL – Normal Mayor Chris Koos and City Manager Pam Reece would be granted emergency decision-making powers under a proposed ordinance to be presented to the town council at a special meeting Monday night.

Details of the ordinance will be released Friday, but the agenda released Thursday said the ordinance would give the mayor and city manager authority to “make decisions outside the typical scope of the personnel code, procurement policy, etc., as needed during (the) pandemic crisis.”

Word of the proposed emergency powers ordinance came on the same day the City of Peoria announced its city council will consider granting Mayor Jim Ardis the power to set a curfew.

Peoria’s top elected leader would also have the authority to ban the sale of guns, ammunition, and alcohol. The Peoria mayor could also ban sales of gasoline isn’t pumped directly into a vehicle’s gas tank.

Normal’s special meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, while Peoria’s council will consider adopting its emergency powers ordinance at the regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].

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