Town of Acushnet Suspends Public Access to Municipal Buildings Due to COVID-19

DATE:                   March 11, 2020
RE:                       Town of Acushnet Suspends Public Access to Municipal

Buildings Due to COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Acushnet Board of Selectmen and Board of Health, in conjunction with the Town Administrator and all Department Heads, have declared a state of emergency in the Town of Acushnet.  In a meeting on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 9:15 a.m., the Selectmen voted to suspend public access to municipal buildings effective immediately in response to the COVID-19 crisis, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared to be a global pandemic and which has moved President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency. 

There are no confirmed or presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Acushnet at this time.

The Board of Selectmen announced the following changes to normal business, effective immediately and until further notice:

The Council on Aging and Library are closed to the public and all programs have been cancelled.  Both facilities will be staffed and available to answer questions via email or telephone call.  The Council on Aging will also be providing outreach via meals on wheels to their patrons.

All other municipal buildings are closed to the public with staff remaining in the buildings to continue “business as usual.”  Please reach out via email or telephone if you need assistance and staff will make accommodations as necessary. 

Public safety buildings will be limiting public access to the main lobby only, and are encouraging non-emergent requests to be made via telephone to limit public exposure.  The department business lines for non-emergency requests are:  Police: 508-998-0240 and Fire: 508-998-0250.  As always, in the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

Trash and recycling pick-up will continue as normal.

Payments to the Collector’s office may be left in the drop box outside the building, or may also be paid on-line.

All public hearings currently scheduled within the next thirty (30) days are postponed and will need to be rescheduled by relevant boards to a new date outside of the thirty (30) day window.

The Land Use License hearing for PJ Keating currently scheduled for March 24th will be postponed to April 28th.  Notice will be publicized in the newspaper, via the Town’s website, and a reverse-911 phone call.

The Selectmen voted to authorize a sixty (60) day extension to the deadline for dog licenses.

The Golf Course will delay its opening day for one week (new opening day is currently scheduled for March 25th), and the Selectmen will review this on a weekly basis to make further adjustments as needed.

Events not canceled at this time:  Town Election (May 16, 2020), Town Meeting (May 11, 2020).  The Selectmen will continue to keep the public notified of any changes to these events.

In addition to the above, on Sunday, March 15th, Governor Charlie Baker announced new restrictions for all Massachusetts residents to promote social distancing and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Significant guidelines include:
Take social distancing seriously and stay home whenever possible.
Grocery stores and pharmacies are open to the public but must practice 6-foot social distancing.
Gatherings of any kind of more than 25 people at one time, in one place are prohibited, including fitness centers, private clubs, theatres, etc.
Hospitals must postpone all elective surgeries.
Significant restrictions on visitors to nursing homes and elder health facilities.
Extension of RMV deadlines such as license renewals and very limited access to the RMV will be allowed.
Relaxed unemployment guidelines to support unemployment resulting from COVID-19.

All public and private schools K-12 in Massachusetts will close on Tuesday, March 17th until at least April 6th.

Starting Tuesday, March 17th through at least April 6th, on-premesis consumption at restaurants or bars is prohibited.  Restaurants will only be able to serve take-out to customers.

Nutrition and Special Education programs will be continued during school closures.
Pre-school and childcare still open, but will need to follow advisory relative to infected or exposed populations.

Possible changes to the state tax filing deadlines are “on the radar” but no information yet on federal filing extensions.

Residents, business owners and community members are asked to abide by these newest guidelines from the Governor’s office.
The COVID-19 situation is very fluid, and new information and guidelines are being posted by the CDC on a regular basis.  Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html for more information.

If anyone displays symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough or shortness of breath, they should not go to work and are advised to contact their primary care physician.  The Department of Public Health has outlined these precautions on their website which also include guidelines on handwashing, staying home when feeling ill, curtailing non-essential business travel, and avoiding large crowds and large events.  For more information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus....

We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as information becomes available.