PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Maine’s largest city might continue conducting business remotely because of the surge in coronavirus cases in the state and elsewhere.
Portland officials said the City Council might issue an order declaring a “limited emergency” so it can continue conducting remote meetings and stay in line with state law. The city had been hoping to open up City Hall to more in-person services soon, but the return of COVID-19 has interrupted that plan, officials said.
“This order is primarily being presented to the Council because City Hall and other city buildings will remain closed to the general public at this time due to the rise in COVID cases and variants, and because of the poor ventilation and sizing of Council Chambers and available committee rooms,” city officials said in a statement.
Portland has provided limited city services in person throughout the pandemic. Those services include those related to elections, birth certificates and parking tickets, among others. Many services have been shifted to email, virtual meetings and by-appointment meetings.
The City Council was scheduled to make a decision about the order at an emergency meeting on Monday night. The meeting was scheduled to be held remotely.
