Town Hall, Public Library, Council on Aging to Reopen Without Need for Appointment on May 19
AVON — Town Administrator Gregory S. Enos is pleased to report that the Town of Avon will be implementing its reopening plan for certain town buildings on Wednesday, May 19, as cases of COVID-19 continue to drop within the community and in surrounding areas.
Town Administrator Enos, in consultation with town leaders such as Fire Chief Robert Spurr and Health Agent Kathleen Waldron, have been reviewing options for opening town buildings to the public. Health and safety protocols, such as social distancing and wearing face coverings, will still be required in Town buildings.
Due to the Governor’s orders announced yesterday, the Board of Selectmen will announce any changes after the Board of Selectmen meeting on Thursday, May 20.
The following plans will be going into effect tomorrow relating to reopening of buildings:
Town Hall
A standing queue will be implemented for residents visiting Town Hall. This includes floor markings for social distancing while waiting for available staff to assist. Masks will still be required.
During the initial roll out, patrons who wish to visit with the DPW, Board of Health and Board of Selectmen would go to a window and request someone to come out. This allows the Town to control the number of people going through the building. Appointments will still be encouraged.
Due to social distance requirements, the Town will continue to remain remote for municipal meetings. This is due to public participation at these meetings and potentially not having enough space if the public wishes to come in for a meeting.
Avon Public Library
The APL has been open by appointment only, and the building will transition to normal hours without appointment. The building will keep the same health and safety protocols in place (masks, computer cleaning, sign-in logs, etc.). The library will have an occupancy limit of 18 visitors at one time. The community room will remain closed to the public. See the Library’s website and Facebook page for ongoing programing such as Story Time.
Computer usage would be limited to two people at a time, with sign-in logs in place. Staff will then rotate the patrons to other computer terminals and clean those just used. Barriers will be set up for those areas. There will be limited seating at tables during this time for patrons to use while browsing books.
Council on Aging
During the initial roll out, The COA will begin some in-person programs and events with limited capacity. Visit the COA website for events and programs, and call ahead for appointments for the Outreach Coordinator or others. Masks will still be required. The Town looks forward to working toward the return of its lunch and other social events soon.
“I commend the hard work of all Town staff to get this reopening plan put together, and for the public’s continued patience during this difficult time,” Town Administrator Enos said. “While everyone must remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19, we feel it is time to reopen certain parts of town on a limited basis, and we look forward to a time when even further restrictions can be lifted and we can return to a normal way of life.”
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