Peters Township starts to prepare for loosening of COVID-19 restrictions
While Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 extends through May 8, some signs of a return to normalcy are emerging.
“The stay-at-home order has been modified to allow construction activities to start on May 1. That is not only building construction, but that’s earth-moving activities,” Peters Township manager Paul Lauer said. “So we would anticipate that projects that have been on hold over the last month will be back up and running.”
Lauer provided a local COVID-19 update during township council’s April 27 meeting, which was held in council chambers with participants socially distanced properly.
He said municipal staff members have processed more than 30 building permits since construction activities were halted in March, and they will begin issuing the permits next week.
“We have the building inspectors working on a modified schedule right now,” Lauer told council. “They will return to a normal schedule when the need for their services by the building community warrants it.”
Another inspection-related activity also is ready to resume.
“Over the past 30 days, we have suspended issuing property maintenance violations. That doesn’t mean we haven’t been out investigating them,” Lauer said, and staff members plan to begin serving notice so that the issues can be corrected.
Meanwhile, more publicly oriented facets of the township, such as the library and community recreation center, remain closed. Their reopening would be permitted during the “green” phase of a three-tiered plan – the status now is “red,” to be followed by “yellow” – outlined by Gov. Tom Wolf for various regions of the state.
“We don’t know when that’s going to occur, when you look at what’s needed for that to happen,” Lauer said.
In his opinion, it won’t be soon, but township officials in the process of trying to determine modifications that facilities might require moving forward.
“We’ve been looking at the municipal building over the last week,” he said. “We’re going to begin to look at those other facilities this week.”
Township-organized activities have been put on hold since mid-March, and Lauer foresees that extending into June, meaning events such as a scheduled Washington Symphony Orchestra concert would not take place.
Council voted to put the cancellation or postponement of events at the manager’s discretion, with council member Monica Merrell request she and her colleagues be given advance notice about decisions.
Lauer also addressed future activity by township advisory boards, recommending that members plan to meet by virtual means, but mentioned two exceptions.
“The planning commission and zoning hearing board, on the other hand, I don’t know how they can deliberate on issues involving review of plans and things like that without sitting together,” he said.
Neither of the boards has agenda that requires them to meet in May.
“But come June, they will, and I think what we’re going to suggest is that they meet similarly to the way council is meeting here, right now,” Lauer said.
Council members said the plan to continue the current setup for their meetings.
Peters Township Fire Department Chief Michael McLaughlin, who serves as the township’s emergency management coordinator, also provided a COVID-19 update at the meeting. He said the local stock of personal protective equipment is “within the comfortable levels,” especially with the receipt of backordered items.
Merrell asked about preparedness for a second wave of COVID-19.
“When I say we’re comfortable with our PPE supply now, that’s for the short term. What we have been doing is conserving its use,” McLaughlin said. “We’re able to reuse N95-style masks if they’re stored properly and put away, and our department and the police department have been doing so. If we continue to do that, we will survive the long term for personal protective equipment.”
He complimented residents and organizations within the township for rising to the occasion in a time of crisis.
“My inbox for email has been inundated with, ‘Hey, we want to help. How can we help?'” he told council. “It’s nice to see. It’s reassuring.”