Corona Virus Update #22 - April 24, 2020

To:        All residents
From:    Steve Dunn, First Selectman

BROOKFIELD HAS LOST FOUR RESIDENTS TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS

It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you the town has lost a fourth resident. The entire town sends our thoughts and prayers to the grieving families. This is a powerful reminder that it’s essential to continue to protect our neighbors by isolating ourselves and our families. Please, stay home unless absolutely necessary.

As of this writing, we have 122 confirmed cases of the virus, with five people hospitalized. 54 people are reported as having recovered from the virus. The reporting systems for data are sporadic and this is the first update we have gotten in five days to our Director of Public Health

The trend in new patients and hospital admissions is slowing, indicating that our social distancing efforts are working. Please continue to contribute by staying home and staying safe. To be accurate, we will only report those cases as given to our Director of Public Health.

TOMORROW NIGHT-CELEBRATING ALL THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES IN FIGHTING COVID-19

Let’s join our neighbors and create some noise on Saturday, April 25, for five minutes starting at 7 p.m. Gather outside your front door, grab your cowbell (you can never make too much noise!), pots and pans, bells, whistles and voices to celebrate all that is Brookfield!

Let’s give thanks to our:

Healthcare workers in hospitals and medical offices;

Firefighters keeping us safe, and bringing smiles to those celebrating birthdays as they drive by our homes with sirens blaring and lights flashing;

Police Department making sure we are safe and sound;

EMS staff on constant call to take our loved ones to get care;

Teachers educating our children virtually, and creating a parade to wave to their students;

Students working hard studying virtually;

Food handlers at grocery stores and restaurants

Neighbors sewing facemasks or assembling 3D parts for medical equipment;

Food Bank volunteers making sure everyone has food and home supplies;

Neighbors donating to the Brookfield Recovers Together special fund helping those affected by the virus;

Local businesses sharing their PPE masks and gowns to those on the front line;

Neighbors who are staying home to help keep us all safe and healthy

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy!

“BROOKFIELD RECOVERS” FUND NOW OVER $26,500 IN DONATIONS

I am very pleased to tell you that our residents have responded quickly to our request for donations to the BROOKFIELD RECOVERS Fund, which allows the town to help our neighbors who need assistance. This is one of the reasons Brookfield is a great town to live in. Thank you to all who have donated. You can donate by sending a check to the town at 100 Pocono Road and mention Brookfield Recovers on your check or you can donate on line through PayPal on the town website.

The volume of those needing assistance has grown tremendously over the past few weeks but thanks to your generous donations to the RECOVERS fund, we have been able to meet the needs of all those who have requested assistance. Here is where you can donate on line:   https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=KSP8S9D4F85XU&source=url

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE CANCELLED

We are cancelling the Memorial Day Parade.

NEW RULES FOR GOING OUT IN PUBLIC

The governor has issued a new executive order requiring that everyone who goes out in public wear a mask. Please follow this rule to keep everyone safe.

TOWN HALL REMAINS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

Staff is working in the office, but the building remains closed. Please call the department you need to set up an appointment with if you need to deliver paperwork or require direct assistance.

SCHOOLS CLOSED UNTIL MAY 20

The governor has declared that all schools will remain closed until at least May 20. We will inform you if this date changes.

BOARD OF FINANCE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY

The Board of Finance met virtually on Wednesday, April 22nd, at 7 p.m. to discuss the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The governor issued an executive order mandating that the board adopt a budget and set a mill rate for next year. The Board of Selectmen has extended, by 30 days, the date by which the Board of Finance must adopt a budget to allow them as much time as possible to gather important information. The Board of Finance has until June 4 to adopt a budget and set the mill rate. They will be meeting virtually weekly on Wednesday evenings to review and adopt a budget and mill rate.

If you wish to participate in the meeting, please go to the town website, where details on how to join the meeting will be on the main page.