May 29, 2020 - Coronavirus Update #27

To:        All residents
From:    Steve Dunn, First Selectman

NO ADDITIONAL BROOKFIELD RESIDENTS LOST TO COVID-19 VIRUS

We remain at the same number of confirmed cases, 154, and we have lost no more residents to the virus, so the number of deaths remains at seven. New infections have plateaued, hospital admissions are down, demonstrating the effectiveness of the measures we all have been taking. We thank you all for your efforts, but remember it’s essential to stay safe and wear a mask at all times when out in public.

To be accurate, we will only report cases confirmed by our Director of Public Health.

OPENING OUR BUSINESS

Restaurants have been open for 10 days and they are doing well. Other businesses will be allowed to open in phases starting on June 20^th. Details are available on the town website and on the State Website State of Connecticut’s Coronavirus Information

OPENING TOWN HALL

We will be carefully returning Town Hall to normal operations – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. -- over the month of June. To bring staff back and keep residents safe, we are reconfiguring our offices and installing sneeze shields in all offices that the public visits. The demand for this equipment is great, so there may be a delay in getting Town Hall up and running. You must make an appointment with the department you are visiting. We encourage everyone to use our online services if possible to conduct business with the town. When you visit Town Hall, you must wear a mask at all times, have your temperature checked and answer the CDC health questions. If you have any concerns about your health, please do not come to Town Hall.

OPENING PARKS

The Board of Selectmen will meet Monday night to review the plan to reopen our parks and facilities gradually over the coming weeks, balancing our desire to enjoy them with the need to keep everyone safe. We will follow the guidance of our Director of Public Health, the State, and our Emergency Management team. Details will be on the town website. No Parks are open this weekend.

TOWN BUDGET UPDATE

The Board of Finance met on Wednesday, May 27, for a final review and adoption of the budget for next year. They did adopt a new budget and mill rate. The Governor’s Executive Order 7I, paragraph 13, ordered the board to adopt a budget and set a mill rate by June 4. A virtual board special meeting/public hearing was held on May 12 to receive public comment on the proposed Town and School Budget. The proposed FY 2020 - 2021 Town Budget can be viewed on the town website.

COVID-19 INFORMATION

These are important links to keep up to date on the Coronavirus:

State of Connecticut’s Coronavirus Information

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

World Health Organization (WHO)

Small Business Owners who need assistance in paying workers whose hours have been cut

GET YOUR DOG LICENSE

It is that time of year again and now you can get your dog license on line. Just go to the town website and go to the Town Clerk page. We have already had over 50 dogs registered and we are going to have our most popular dog contest-details also on the town web site.