SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE CALL WITH COUNTY EXEC - CORONAVIRUS….LIBRARY CLOSED…UPDATED COUNTS…COUNTY TO DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY …GOVERNOR SUSPENDS OPEN MEETINGS LAW…INDOOR LITTLE LEAGUE CANCELLED…MOBILE TESTING PHONE #… POOL CLOSED…HATE INCIDENTS
UPDATES-SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE CALL WITH COUNTY EXEC AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ON CORONAVIRUS….LIBRARY CLOSED…UPDATED COUNTS…COUNTY TO DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY MONDAY…GOVERNOR SUSPENDS OPEN MEETINGS LAW…INDOOR LITTLE LEAGUE CANCELLED…MOBILE TESTING PHONE NUMBER…INDOOR POOL CLOSED…HATE INCIDENTS DEPLORED…
Just got off the phone with the County Executive and other officials.
GOVERNOR SUSPENDS OPEN MEETINGS LAW AS IT APPLIES TO GOVERNMENT MEETINGS…TOWN BOARD WEDNESDAY EVENING MEETINGS PROBABLY WILL BE CANCELLED –The Governor suspended open meetings law. Conference calls or skype meetings can be held by municipal Boards provided that the public can view the meetings on the web or on TV. Meetings can be held remotely. For the time being – I recommend that the Town Board hold special meetings Tuesday’s after our work session and that we encourage public participation by phone or video conferencing (which should be set up shortly). The Town Board meetings scheduled for Wednesday evenings will probably be cancelled until the virus ends. Recommending that the Planning Board and Zoning Board consider similar initiatives. Our meetings are televised. This would also apply to School Boards, Village Boards, The Parking District and Fire District Board of Commissioners- provided that their meetings are televised or broadcast on the web/video conferencing.
HOW MANY CASES IN WESTCHESTER? As of this afternoon there were 158 cases in Westchester, . 5 Hospitalizations. 1,200 people were tested. Remember, 80% of cases are self resolving.
COUNTY TO DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY ON MONDAY WHICH WILL ENABLE SCHOOLS TO GET WAIVER OF 180 REQUIRED SCHOOL DAYS—county will be able, as of Monday, to direct additional closures.
SHOULD FARMER’S MARKETS CLOSE? The County Exec thinks that should be considered during this crisis –because there is not as much oversight of operations.
ALL INDOOR ELMSFORD LITTLE LEAGUE CANCELLED
MOBILE TESTING—More tests are being made available. There is a mobile testing unit in New Rochelle. You must call 1-888-364-3065 to see if you are eligible.
LIBRARY CLOSED
In order to best protect our community and library staff from exposure to the novel coronavirus, and at the recommendation of the Town of Greenburgh with the support and approval of the Library Board of Trustees, the library will be CLOSED until March 29th.
During this time period the building will be closed to the public and no physical library materials can be checked out or holds picked up. No fines will accrue, so keep your materials at home and return them when we re-open.
The library will re-open as soon as possible when the virus is contained and infection rates flatten. As of now we expect to open on Monday, March 30th but please continue to check our website for updates: greenburghlibrary.org
Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate this health crisis in a way we believe will help minimize the chances of infection for our entire community.
SOME INSTANCES OF ANTI SEMITISM/ANTI CHINESE/ANTI NEW ROCHELLE- There have been some Anti Semitic, Anti Chinese, Anti New Rochelle sentiments –which we all deplore. The county has a Human Rights Commission which will review and take action on these instances.
POOL CLOSED AT THEODORE YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER—We closed down the pool at the TDYCC for the time being, along with other programs.
ASKED COUNTY IF WE COULD CROSS TRAIN EMPLOYEES—If one person tests positive all the people he/she came in contact with will have to be quarantined for 14 days. This could impact entire departments. I asked the County Executive if the civil service rules can allow the town to cross train employees who work in different departments (that have been closed down) so if someone is sick or if multiple employees are sick in one department that the offices can be staffed by other employees.
Next county/municipal conference call on Monday. I’ll continue to provide you with updates. Feel free to call me on my cell: 438-1343 with questions.
Be safe. Wash your hands. Keep away 6 feet of others. Don’t get too stressed.
PAUL FEINER