Coronavirus Borough Update - March 13, 2020

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In the midst of the rapidly changing news in regards to COVID-19, the Borough has taken several steps to be proactive and protect our Borough employees, our residents, and those interacting with the Borough.

Residents can rest assured that the Borough has a continuity of operations plan and a continuity of government plan in place to ensure essential services continue without any interruption. Our first responders are properly equipped to perform their duties to respond to any emergency that could arise.

All Borough employees, first responders, and volunteers on our boards, committees, commissions, and recreation programs also received a memo today regarding travel. We are mandating that employees and first responders, and are highly requesting of our volunteers, to notify the Borough Administrator a week ahead of any travel that involves leaving the continental United States. With that, the Borough is specifying that anyone returning from such travel must follow protocols set by the Center for Disease Control - including any set requirements for self-quarantine.

Our DPW employees will also only be performing essential functions. We plan to resume all tasks as soon as possible. Also as a precautionary measure, all Recreation programs and events are postponed until March 30, 2020.

Our Borough buildings have disinfectant items in stock and we are ordering additional disinfectant items to keep public areas clean. We also now have an outdoor mail slot for any residents who wish to drop off paperwork who do not want to come inside the Borough building at 140 Eagle Rock Avenue. This mailbox will be checked multiple times each weekday and mail will be time stamped as to when items are received. Residents can also pay their bills online if coming to Borough Hall or the new mailbox is not a preferred option. Printed information about how to stay healthy is available at Borough Hall as well, but can also be found on the Borough website.

The Governor also recently announced restrictions on gatherings which will attract large groups and various organizations are taking additional actions as well. Due to this news, the New Jersey Devils game that our Recreation Department was selling tickets for has suspended until further notice. The April 1st Senior Lunch at Hanover Manor has been cancelled. All other Borough events and activities are still tentatively scheduled to go on as planned, but please remain alert and look for updates and announcements in the newsletter, on Borough social media, and through emergency phone calls and messages.

Lastly, the Borough Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30pm will still go on as planned. Residents are encouraged to watch the meeting live on television (Channel 35 on Comcast, Channel 46 on Verizon) or live on YouTube. For residents who want to participate in the meeting but do not want to attend in person, a phone number will be shared during the live broadcast council meeting in which residents will be able to call in and participate in the open public sessions. Since only one call will be able to be received at a time, the Mayor will announce when to call the telephone number in groups - for example, saying that those with last names between A and D can call in now, waiting a few seconds to answer any calls, and then advising the next range to call.

We continue to assess and reassess different measures and initiatives to protect the health and safety of our residents and our employees. We appreciate your understanding, patience, and flexibility during this time.