COVID-19 municipal updates

Wheatfield

Town of Wheatfield Supervisor Don MacSwan released the following press release on March 23:

Last week Governor Cuomo, by Executive Order, required that all businesses and government municipalities/agencies eliminate all unnecessary non-essential employees from reporting to work. Accordingly, only essential employees of the Town of Wheatfield are physically reporting to the actual work locations, the remainder of Town employees are working from home or are furloughed at home pursuant to the State mandate.

Please be assured however, that all essential town functions and services are being currently maintained and will continue to be maintained.

Taking into account all the recent developments and State Orders regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), together with the State of Emergency that was declared in Niagara County and the Town of Wheatfield, I provide the following updated information and policies regarding The Town of Wheatfield.

Wheatfield takes seriously the health and safety of our residents, businesses and visitors. Therefore, we are taking a proactive approach in an attempt to limit and slow down the spread of the virus, by instituting the following measures for Town facilities and activities:

1. A State of Emergency in the Town of Wheatfield was declared on March 16 lasting until further notice. We are requesting that you limit nonessential travel as well as public gatherings and meetings.

2. The Town of Wheatfield Youth Center and Community Center including all events, senior activities, meetings, outside organization activities are continuing to be canceled until further notice. The Youth Center is no longer accepting applications for summer camp, baseball and softball as these activities are full.

3. As there have been Coronavirus (COVID-19), cases reported in our area, the Town Hall is closed to the public. The Town Hall will still be maintained by essential staff and departments. The Town Clerk’s Office will still be accepting various payments online, by regular mail and dropbox (at front entrance to Town Hall). Building permits are still being issued. As far as this and any other Town Hall business is concerned, we strongly recommend you to complete your town business on-line, by telephone, email or drop box (at front entrance to Town Hall). Any documents needing to be picked up can be done with specific arraignments with the respective department.

4. The regular town board, zoning and planning meetings continue to be cancelled through the remainder of March. Special meetings may be called for necessary or emergency business.

5. Any other town and committee meetings are postponed until further notice.

6. Electronic recycling at the Town of Wheatfield Water and Sewer Department is temporarily suspended until further notice.

7. The Town of Wheatfield Highway Department Building is closed to the public until further notice.

8. Town cleaning staff will be taking extra sanitation measures on high contact areas.

9. Wheatfield Town Court shall be closed and suspending and adjourning all cases except for criminal arraignments and emergency cases/orders. Any questions from the public should be directed to court phone numbers for guidance and adjourned dates.

10. As part of the essential services, the Town Supervisor’s Office, Town Attorney’s Office, Town Clerk’s Office, Highway Department, Water and Sewer Department and Building Department remain open.

11. Please be reminded that in contacting any department by phone or email, you may need to leave a message or voicemail due to reduced staffing. Please have patience for a return call or response, but be advised that we will make every effort to respond in reasonable time. As always, emergency calls should be to 911.

These policies and measures are subject to change and will be updated as needed.

Both I and Town staff will do our best to keep you informed as things change in the coming days and weeks.

To all of our residents, we will come out of this crisis stronger than ever, with a greater appreciation of our families and friends. It is also a time to rely on our faith for strength and guidance to get through this difficult time. If you have a neighbor in need, help out when you can especially with our Senior community.

Remember to follow all social distancing and cleanliness guidelines as advanced by the Department of Health and the CDC. Take care of yourself and do your best to look out for others who may need extra help.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Town with any questions. Thank you and please do your part to stay safe.

Don MacSwan

Wheatfield Town Supervisor

Niagara-Wheatfield School District

Niagara-Wheatfield School Superintendent Daniel Ljiljanich provided the following update:

Beginning Monday, March 23 the Wheatfield school district will only provide grab and go food service at Wheatfield High School and Tuscarora Elementary School. Food Service will be limited to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Two days worth of meals will be provided on each day of meal service.

Town of Niagara

The Town of Niagara Active Hose released the following statement via Facebook on March 24:

You stay! We’ll go!

In these trying times, we recognize that some of our residents may fall in the high risk category, yet still need essential supplies to sustain everyday life.

If you are a Town of Niagara resident and find yourself in need of necessities such as main grocery items, prescription pickup or OTC medications, please reach out to us via the comments or messenger and we will make arrangements to get you what you need. If you are the family member of someone at risk who has a need but no access to social media, you may reach out as well. As funds are limited, we will arrange for payment at drop off so we can continue to utilize the funds we have for upfront purchases and continue to help others.

All we ask is that you please respect the severity of the situation and only utilize this service if absolutely necessary.

Thank you and stay safe.

Chief William Jasper Jr.

The phone number for the Town of Niagara Active Hose is 298-8100

North Tonawanda

The state of emergency expanded in North Tonawanda. From Mayor Arthur Pappas:

A State of Emergency for the City of North Tonawanda as was declared under Section 24 of New York State Executive Law which preserves public safety. In line with this declaration effective Sunday March 22, 2020 at 7 pm all City Municipal playgrounds, pavilions, and athletic fields including tennis and basketball courts, disc golf, and softball fields will be closed. Swings will be removed by the Parks Dept, and all facilities will be closed until further notice. Walking/riding on trails is still permitted. Working in conjunction with the schools, County Health dept. and the State we are trying to prevent the spread of COVID 19.

City Hall will remain closed to the public as well as the Youth Center and Senior Center. The Keller Building remains closed also. While the Federal Post Office remains open, please abide by the 6-foot distance rule and comply with social distancing when attending the City Market. Trash pick-up will continue as usual but we are asking that all trash be put in plastic bags and the bags then deposited in the totes. Please do not leave anything outside a tote. Bulk pick up will remain on schedule as usual but please put out what is only necessary at this time and not prior to the scheduled date of pick up.

As the governor has stated the virus rate increases with density and for that reason we wish to keep everyone from joining together to infect others. Therefore, no group activities may take place in NT City Parks.

It is paramount that everyone adhere seriously to these measures to prevent the spread of the virus as we already have confirmed cases locally and wish to curtail the rate of increase. Thanks to our local responders and city employees for their work in helping to make our City as safe as we possibly are able at this critical time.