Corona Virus Update #24 - May 8, 2020

To:        All residents
From:    Steve Dunn, First Selectman

BROOKFIELD HAS LOST SEVEN RESIDENTS TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS

Sadly, we have lost three additional residents to the virus, bringing the number to seven. State reports suggest new infections have plateaued, demonstrating the measures all of us have been taking have been effective. We thank everyone for their efforts, but it’s essential to continue to protect our neighbors by isolating ourselves and our families. Please, stay home unless absolutely necessary.

The number of new patients and hospital admissions is slowing, indicating that our social distancing efforts are working.  As of this writing, we have 147 confirmed cases of the virus, with no new information on those hospitalized. 54 people are reported as having recovered. The data reporting systems are still sporadic, but we can assume there is not a marked increase in the number of new cases since March. To be accurate, we will only report those cases confirmed by our Director of Public Health.

TOWN IS OFFERING COVID-19 TESTING TO ALL POLICE, FIRE, EMS AND TOWN EMPLOYEES

We have arranged to test all staff for the virus and antibodies, which will help us ensure they are safe. We asking that all employees be tested, which takes five minutes -- results are returned in 24 hours.

BOARD OF FINANCE COMPLETES BUDGET

The Board has finalized its budget for next year. Town Operations will go up .31% and schools will received a 3.25% increase. The Mill Rate will rise 1.76%. If revenues were to remain flat, the Mill Rate increase would be .71%. But, in an abundance of caution, the board lowered the estimate for revenues coming in. The board has scheduled a virtual Town Hall on Tuesday night, May 12, at 7:00 p.m., and we encourage all residents to join. Details are on the town website.

The board has until June 4 to submit the final budget to the Town Clerk. The board has done an outstanding job in writing a budget that is sensitive to the needs of our residents.

ADDITONAL PPE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES HAS COME IN SO PLEASE APPLY IF YOU NEED IT

We’ve received PPE that we promised local businesses would be available. Our Police Department picked up the supplies this morning and will distribute them to these businesses.  If you are a small business and haven’t already ordered, please place an order and we will try to fulfill it. In the last round, 92 firms requested over 2,800 items, all delivered by our police. We thank them delivering these needed supplies to our businesses.

REOPENING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

This week I signed an executive order suspending, for the duration of the pandemic, many zoning regulations to allow our businesses to open safely starting on May 20.  All businesses need to provide our staff a plan to open , but approvals will be expedited and we are waiving any associated permit fees. Once these businesses reopen, we encourage you to support and frequent them.

“BROOKFIELD RECOVERS” FUND NOW OVER $42,000 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 write Brookfield Recovers on your check, or you can donate on line electronically on the town website.

The volume of those needing assistance has grown tremendously over the past few weeks, and are still straining our ability to provide these services, but thanks to your generous donations, we have been able to meet their needs. Here is where you can donate on line via credit card or PayPal:   https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=KSP8S9D4F85XU&source=url

SCHOOLS CLOSED THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR

The governor has declared that all schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. We are meeting with the superintendent and the Board of Education to understand how the town can help open schools safely in the fall.

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. Studies show that if two people are wearing masks, the chance of transmitting the virus between them drops to 1.5%.

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.

PLANNING FOR REOPENING TOWN HALL

We are putting new protocols and procedures in place to safely open Town Hall. In order to do so safely, we are going to install sneeze guards in many offices and reconfigure employee work spaces to achieve safe distancing.  We will slowly open Town Hall to the public, but we will require you make an appointment, wear masks, have your temperature taken and answer questions issued by our Director of Public Health. Our goal will be to keep you and our staff safe. Details will follow in the coming weeks.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE CANCELLED

We have cancelled the Memorial Day Parade.