RESOLUTION 2020-08
A RESOLUTION APPROVING CERTAIN POLICY CHANGES IN LIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020, the Governor of Indiana issued Executive Order 20-02 which declared a public health emergency in the State of Indiana as a result of the novel (new) Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19″) outbreak in Indiana, throughout the United States, and worldwide; and,
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared COVID-19 to be a national emergency; and,
WHEREAS, to reduce and slow the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and the Indiana State Department of Health (“ISDH”) have recommended implementation of mitigation strategies to increase containment of the virus, including cancellation of large gatherings and social distancing in smaller gatherings; and,
WHEREAS, the Governor of Indiana has issued Executive Orders 20-02 to 20-26 which provided further guidance and has helped to provide a roadmap to reopen the state amid the public health emergency.
WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town of Churubusco deems it is necessary and proper to take further actions to protect the health, safety and welfare of our employees and citizens in connection with the continuing and evolving threat posed to public health by COVID-19.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the following schedules and timelines to reopen town facilities and resume operations apply per the Governor’s executive orders and directives.
Building/Facility access
The following facilities may resume operations with social distance requirements immediately:
- Churubusco Skate Park
- Churubusco Boy Scout Building, with the following limits on gatherings
- May 6 to May 24: twenty-five (25) or less
- May 24 to June 14: one hundred (100) or less
- June 14 to July 4: two hundred fifty (250) or less
- After July 4: no limit, but social distancing must be followed
The following facilities may resume operations with social distancing requirements on May 24, 2020:
- Churubusco Park public restrooms
- Churubusco Park playgrounds
- Churubusco Park baseball diamonds
- Churubusco Park basketball courts
- Churubusco Park tennis courts
- Churubusco Park Splash Pad (weather permitting)
The following offices will operate by appointment only until June 4, 2020 (or until the public health emergency has expired):
- Clerk-Treasurer’s Office
- Town Hall
- Wastewater Plant
- Water Plant
Face Coverings/Personal Protective Equipment
Employees who cannot abide by social distance requirements are required to wear facial coverings and other personal protective equipment indefinitely.
Travel
All non-essential, town related travel by employees is prohibited until June 4, 2020 (or until the public health emergency has expired).
Any non-essential, personal travel by employees is strongly discouraged until June 4, 2020 (or until the public health emergency has expired).
Public Meetings
- The Churubusco Town Council will hold virtual public meetings until June 4, 2020 (or until the public health emergency has expired).
Work schedules
Elected Officials and Department Heads have the discretion to implement the following, as is appropriate for their offices with the goal of maintaining the operation of normal business and may do so until the public health emergency has expired.
- Alternate work schedules – please note that employees will be paid for hours actually worked and may use paid time off or authorized unpaid leave to fill in other hours. Exceptions can be made by the department head to release employees should work loads lighten and must be approved and communicated to the Clerk-Treasurer in writing prior to releasing employees.
- Remote work (if employee has work that can otherwise be performed out of the office)
Non-Essential Employees
Non-essential employees are hereby required to begin their regular schedules with social distance requirements in place.
Absences
Sick Time: Employees who have symptoms of respiratory illness must stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g., cough suppressants). Those with concerns or questions about their illness or seeking advice about whether to come to work are invited to contact the Clerk-Treasurer or their department head.
- Employees must use sick time for self-isolation or quarantine, even if they are not sick, when it is required or recommended by public health authorities/guidelines or by health care providers.
- Employees may use sick time to care for immediate family and household members who are not ill, but need care due to any COVID-19 related closures of schools or day care centers, or for other breakdowns in care arrangements.
- In the event an employee does not have enough sick time to cover a COVID-19 related absence, the Town will pay the employee their regular hourly wage for the hours they were unable to work without penalty to the employee. This will only occur once all sick time has been exhausted.
- A doctor’s note or other documentation may be required before returning to work.
- This policy shall expire upon the expiration of the public health emergency. Regular sick time policies as adopted in the Town of Churubusco Personnel Manual will be enforced upon its expiration.
Utility disconnects/penalties
- Utility penalties shall resume on May 21, 2020
- Non-payment disconnections will resume on June 4, 2020 or upon the expiration of the public health emergency
- It shall be at the discretion of the Clerk-Treasurer to extend any further utility waivers and/or payment requirements concerning utility connection.
Further Executive Orders and Directives
The Town shall abide by and follow any directions and/or guidance outlined in any national or state directives released after the date of this resolution.
The Town Council will re-evaluate these policies and issue further guidance as it becomes necessary.
DULY ADOPTED by the Town Council at its regular meeting held on the 6th day of May, 2020, at which meeting a quorum was present.
_______________________________ ATTEST:
Mark Pepple
________________________________ _____________________________
Bruce Johnson Madalyn Sade-Bartl, Clerk-Treasurer
________________________________
Nathan Van Horn
