RESOLUTION 2021-03
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, in March 18, 2020 the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) was signed which required certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19 with those provisions expiring December 31, 2020; 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 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 policies apply until further notice.
Building access
Closed to public:
• Clerk-Treasurer’s Office
• Town Hall (during business hours)
• Churubusco Park public restrooms
• Wastewater Plant
• Water Plant
Restricted, per directives from Dept Head or Elected Official:
• Churubusco Police Department (lobby open only, cleaning/sanitizing completed every shift)
Public Meetings
• The Churubusco Town Council will hold virtual public meetings with limited in-person attendance. The meetings will continue to be held at the Churubusco Park Scout Building until further notice.
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.
• 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)
Absences
Sick Time: Employees who have symptoms of respiratory illness or fever are encouraged to stay home and be tested for COVID-19. Employees are further encouraged to not return 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). In the event an employee is waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test, the employee is encouraged to remain at home until those results are received.
• In the event an employee does not seek testing or receives a negative test result, the employee must use sick time or other leave to cover those absences. In the event an employee does not have enough paid time off to cover an absence, the Town will abide by the guidelines and penalties set within the Town’s Personnel Handbook.
• Employees may use sick time or other leave to care for immediate family and household members who are ill, 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 receives a positive test result, the Town will pay the employee their regular hourly wage for the hours they were unable to work without penalty to the employee. Documentation of a positive COVID-19 result will be required to be paid without penalty or exhaustion of paid time off. The employee will be paid for ten (10) days OR the date a doctor or medical professional has cleared the employee to return to work.
• In the event an employee tests positive, a doctor’s note or other documentation will be required before the employee can return to work.
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 January, 2021, at which meeting a quorum was present.
_______________________________ ATTEST:
Mark Pepple
________________________________ _____________________________
Bruce Johnson Madalyn Sade-Bartl, Clerk-Treasurer
________________________________
Nathan Van Horn
