 Welcome everyone. I just want to say hello and welcome to all of our Amherst community members, and we thank you for joining us today. My name is Brianna Sunren. I'm the communications manager for the town. And we have Fire Chief Nelson here with us today. And excuse me for that. We can see your typing. I'm multitasking folks. So I just want to remind everybody that this is being recorded. So please refrain from asking any personally identifying health questions today. In this webinar to ask a question from the zoom application, click the Q&A button to type in your question. It will only be visible to us as the hosts. Additionally, if you'd like to join the conversation and speak, please use the zoom raise hand button or press star nine if you're joining us from a telephone and we'll pull you into the room. We ask that you introduce yourself before speaking and to maintain a civil discourse. So today joining us, we have Amherst Fire Chief and emergency management director Tim Nelson. Welcome to you both. Before we launch into Q&A, I'm just going to give the town manager a chance to give any status updates he might have. Great. Thanks Brianna. So I'm Paul Backelman, the town manager. And thank you for joining us today. Don't have a lot of updates because I know Tim has a lot to talk about and he talks a lot about everything he talks about. And we appreciate you taking the time to join us. A couple of things that we do want to talk about is that we're waiting, a lot of talk about reopening town government and or town businesses. We really try to align ourselves with the state and what the governor is talking about. We're waiting for him to make some pronouncements with that might happen today might happen tomorrow. Right now that May 4, which is next Monday is the date that has been the target date. My assessment my assumption is that that will be extended. So, sort of, that'll be something that'll be of keen interest to a lot of us to know which which way he's going so we can align our tasks with him with it with the government with the state government is doing. Also, you know, as the weather starts to get warm up, we'll have a lot more people out there this weekend should be pretty warm. We're monitoring all of our facilities, especially Puffers Pond, as we move forward right now we haven't closed off the road we are considering limiting parking near Puffers Pond. Puffers Pond is closed to sort of sedentary activities. You can walk through you can use the trails you can go you can do solitary fishing things like that. But as the weather starts to warm will be adjusting our policies on outside recreation as as it as we deem best for the town and for the public health. So with that, I think it's really going to be Tim show. Oh really. Well, good afternoon. I hope everyone's doing well that thing that you see out out there is the sun. So, that's strange, yellow orb. So, I just a couple things to start to start with, you know, I know I know folks are curious if we've had any code code code code positive K K case in the town and yes, yes we have but nothing, nothing too serious serious serious. I think that's a test and the fact that folks are taking taking this virus seriously. And that's and that's and that's a good good thing. It is so insidious that you know they're going to be the folks that are going to get get get this in in spite of doing all that that that we can to stay stays to save it off. People are doing the right thing. They stay staying home, while watching their bare hands social distancing I see see all over the place. And we're wearing map math and mass mass when you're when you're going to be in a close encounter counter with people that's though those simple things are really going to do a lot to protect you and everyone around around you. And I can't say enough enough about that. And, you know, again, and I mean our concerns really great right right now are are the are most vulnerable populations. That's that's gonna be our L L L this for the most, most parts and they're nursing homes assisted webbing facilities that we have in town. And I have have to say that they've all done a stellar stellar job at protecting their their their reds red red red as whether it be through hyper clean cleaning restrictions on access to to the building, building where we're wearing the proper proper personal protective equipment across the board, they've done a as I said a stellar stellar job at taking care of their people and taking care of each other. So. Thank you for that update chief. Sure. We've got a list of questions that have come in and if you guys are ready I we can, we can launch in certainly. All right, so the first question is for Chief Nelson how is your team holding up during this time. emotionally, physically, in a right resting part of the inner of the resting group request question we're, we are a reflection of society as a whole. And we're doing doing well, I mean, one of the one of the interesting things that we've become a young younger department department which means we have a lot of a lot of a lot of a lot of our members have young young young kids at at home and like everyone they've they've they've gained a new found respect for teachers. Let me tell you so and they're go and go go go go through the same things that everyone else is trying to balance balance work, school child childcare and trying to work work that out at home and also the fact that we've all kind of been thrown off our schedules, schedules, schedules, schedules. We're not used used to being with our, our loved ones as much as much as we are so that takes a little, a little bit of adapting to. I might say I've never, never, never, never seen fire fire fighters more excited about coming to work. As I've seen it in the last couple of months, but they're doing doing well hold hold holding up. So, we're doing a lot more in terms of checking in on on folks to make make make sure they're all our needs, they're well they're their need, need, needs are met met and we're just kind of, again, keep keeping keeping a cool, cool, cool side and make sure that everyone's okay and at the same time to let let folks know it's it's it's it's okay not to be okay and we can fix fix we can address address address that but again that we're doing to do and again our focus is on taking care care killer public and this is a really a strange time a different time but there are the folks focus on what is important which is taking care of all of you, all of us. Now that's an important message I think for everybody to hear. I'm going to remind our attendees if you want to ask a question, please use the Q&A button in the zoom application, raise your hand in the zoom application or press star nine from the phone. So, we've got another question here. What's it like with you mass being closed you notice a difference in your call volume at all. Oh, sure. Absolutely. I mean, which we would what what happened is we've, there's probably 25,000 people who are not there. And that and that is in itself is going to cause our call calls all in the go to go to go down and and and it has significantly and it's not you know folks like like say well you know you don't have those drunk students students around in anymore but it's not just that it's not real really bad it's just a function of that many people people here and people drive around they have car accidents they fall down they they get sick. And that and that's where most most of our calls from you, you, you, you mass come from. So, you know, without that, yes, our call calls volume is down significantly. Someone wants to know what it is behind your head on your head. Yeah, that is a propeller, and there's a photo photo of an of an ff fifth fifth evil fighter jet. I'm a pilot I've been a pilot for 30 some some years so my wife got got got me the propeller propeller for Christmas a few years back. And the photo photo is. It's a good good friend friend of mine flying flying flying the jet, and I was flying flying the phone phone photo plane we're up in the white white mountains doing it. Do we're doing a that that was in the Air Force may mag magazine, a few few years years back so I got I got the fly fly fly the photo photo ship. So, and he's a really good good friend so I'm a man of many talents. I'm I do okay I'm okay and I and I got to have to have to say I also he's he's such a such a good friend he got God he got he got me a flight in and out and ff ff ff 15 a few years back and I got to fly it I actually got to fly fly fly fly the jet so that's my claim the same I guess that's what they told you. Trust me, try to trust me we do the it was good we do we got we got the dog dog dog dog fight and we didn't lose a fight. Okay, so the next question is, how, how do you think Amherst is handling the situation compared to other communities in the Commonwealth or other communities in the area. I think we're doing doing well and part of that is, we prepared early as early as you could. We, we first began here here about this back in first part of the latter part of Jan, Jan, January, and we just heard, you know, just that this this thing was coming all that. And just we, we took steps from one one thing to order for personal protective equipment or early. Because as we talked about about about this it just seemed like this is going to grow. It's going to get worse. So we said, we need to reach out, build build up our stock, just just in case, you know, the rest of the world starts to do do do the same same thing. That would put us in a good, good spot. We took, we took steps or early to restrict access to our building. We did did that that are early on, we, we, we took a higher protective stance with our personnel as they went out went out to to respond. We're wearing more personal protective equipment, PPE. We did did that early on so and one of the things is, you know, what what we found found is people, you know, they may they may they may they may be sick and they may have been sick for a week week or so with flu flu type type symptoms symptoms but if they, if they broke broken ankle ankle, they're more concerned about that when they make make that that call. So to protect, protect our protect our our folks we started starting where we're wearing our TV or early on. I think compared to other other towns in any area, I think we're doing doing doing well we haven't had anybody, any of our personnel come come up positive for for this we only had to have to quarantine to people just as a particular question, and none and none and none of them were positive. And I've been anecdotally here, you know, throughout throughout our area area of the towns are having some some issues with with with with that. So that is just just bad luck, you know, but for us I think we we we took an affirmative affirmative and a proactive step to protect all our personal so right now we're doing doing well and I would think we're going to we're going to continue to do do well with that. I noticed that Tim early on you were sending your paramedics out in full protective gear like right people call it hazmat suits but they're really right word we've heard is PPE right personal protection equipment. And I said, Wow, why are they doing it so early but really you had already thought about force protection which has maintained our our crews have to stay healthy so they can serve the citizens and residents of Amherst. And that if one person were to be catch, you know, have catch COVID-19, the whole crew would have to be out. And so losing, you know, having exposure was a really dangerous thing and that's why I really admired your early decision to have people have the paramedics going out and full PPE. And I think it was a little off putting to some of our citizens to show up because you have a hurt leg or something like that. And they're right, but they don't know and you walk into the house you don't know so I that foresight was really important. Yeah, and we and we were quite a question about that at first and then of course it came came came came out that you can be a sense of the symptomatic, but but still infected people. And we wanted to make make sure that that in an abundance of caution that we took those steps to pretend to detect our for our folks as I said, for years, you know, in order for us to take care of the folks out out there, we need to take care of ourselves and if we protect ourselves, it means we're better able to protect and take care of the folks that we serve. So that, and as I said, you know, a person may have been been ill for a week a week or so. But if they, you know, break break an arm break break a leg, that's what they're going to be focused on. They may not tell, tell, tell, tell us when we arrive. Oh, I've had the flu for a week or I've had the symptoms because they're more concerned about that particular thing. So, and that's, again, you know, it was at first I think it was off of putting, but in the in in the end it means we're going to be able to protect people. How is the town doing now with PPE. Do we have enough. Yeah, we're doing well we're doing very, very well I got to got to admit, you know, there's prepped for prepped pressure a lot of a lot of pressure worldwide on all these vendors. But I, but I believe that because we started started early, we got out ahead of the curve, and we've, and we've got got some great great vendor vendor so our supply supply stream is good. And yeah, it has slow, slow, slow down, down some, but because we began early. I mean, again, we got out ahead of the curve. So we have above buffer and, and our plan was the plan for the worst. The plan plan plan plan for an overwhelming amount amount of calls and trans transports and that type of thing. And we just began and we just pushed pushed out as far as far as far as it could and we're still do do do the fact that the state has come up come up with a do to the distribution system system that works well. That has helped help us as well to fill in any gaps we may see in the future. And it's really interesting because it's like a military campaign where you have to lay out your supply line to make sure you have your supplies and you started early, so that when you put an order in now and they say it's backorder for a month that that's you can handle that. Right. I'm not sure several weeks worth of supply on hand if this is I mean the question we talk about every day when we meet is if supplies were to be cut off today. How long would we last and you've had multiple weeks out there. We were right right now I mean we we we ended in the inventory our supplies at least every five to six days, and then project checked out and we project what what our rate of use is going going going to be as well. It's called a burn rate. So we so right right now we we've got approximately four to four to 45 days worth of supplies if our supply if our supply chain stop right now. And then that goes back back back to, you know, I've got got got got some great great great folks will work in here who who who could project checked out and and we're for for forward think think thinking, and said you know we need we need to do do do this so that so that's why we're in a good spot now. We have a question that just came in through our info email account from rich. He's asking, even though case count of covert is low and Amherst has the town considered requiring facial coverings or masks in downtown area where it is difficult to remain six feet away from each other. It's a great question. It's something that we talk a lot about. It's really a call ultimately for the health director or Julie Vetterman who is our health director. You see some communities have required facial coverings cloth facial covering specifically at all times I think Somerville went for a mandatory if you're outside you need a facial cover covering. We have not done that. And I think the health director is waned is aligning our policy with the Centers for Disease Control and the Mass Department of Public Health, saying that it's recommended. It's advised, but it's not required is the key piece in her mind and I think in our mind is that social distancing is the key public health safety measure. If you can't achieve social distancing, then that's the time to have a cloth mask on or something I mean I have my, I think we all probably have I have my, my cloth mask, you know, we can put it on that must be allowed. And you've got yours and I think we're, we're actually starting a campaign with our community participation officers to have people create or make cloth masks helps to distribute them to people who might not have access to cloth masks otherwise. But as in terms of the question, we don't require them at this point in time. It's something that we take into consideration and we'll continue to look at the science of the matter. And if it becomes something that where our, our health experts say this is something we should be doing we will certainly adjust that policy. Great. Thank you. Well, I wanted to add, add quick and as we were talking about the supplies, you know, things were to get hectic and we were in our activity level went went went way up specifically because because of the vibe by. I wanted folks to know that we've got a pretty robust new mutual aid plan in place throughout throughout the county. I mean, I've seen a few weeks, weeks ago, this city spring spring, springfield ag ag go on along the meadow wet Westfield they they came up with a mutual aid practice, which is good. But we've been, we've, we've had had had this packed in place for years just for some something like this. So, and, and so, you know, the plan is all read or ready there. And if one two or three towns towns get have have an order in order amount of pressure put upon pond and we have other towns that that can come in and support support and that's something that's been been in place for a very long time. I just wanted to make that. So I have a question that I guess would be for either of you both of you. Are there things that we can do as a community to help out. You know, well, yeah, well, also, you know what, one, one thing is keep doing what you're doing. I just get it's beginning to get night night nice out. You know, some some of the news news out outlets are saying that the trend trend is beginning to clap, clap, clap, and that type of thing is, we can't get complacent. We don't need to in the still still need to need need need to enforce this social dis dis diss diss diss dissing piece, where where where where wearing a mask, watching has all those, we still need to do those type type type type type type of things to protect ourselves and protect everyone else. So I guess it's you know is I think the other daughter doctor fell out she said, don't take your foot off the gas right now, so. that we're all feeling a little sense of I want this to be over already when I get back to normal when my kids go back to school and all those things is kids are not going to go back to school this this year but when the weather starts to turn and we get tired of all these you know the stay-at-home restrictions I think that's really gonna be hard for folks to sort of internalize and we're just you know ready to get back to work and see each other again socialize and I think I agree with Tim is that this is not the time to do that you know when you look at the numbers at the state they say that we're plateauing we hope that we are but it's just at the very peak now and we're we want to see that go down for you know multiple days in a row in terms of hospitalization so that we make sure that it truly is going down and so if we if we sort of let up now and I fear that it's too soon and then we're going to be have another resurgence and we don't want that to happen but I think that's the that's the biggest fear and again the message has not changed from the very beginning stay home wash your hands those are the two things that people can do and limit your exposure to other people and it's really hard to do but I think people have been really phenomenal at making that happen so far and just really credit everybody in town and also in the whole state that really worked hard to make that happen you know one one one one thing that I that I ascribe ascribe to is is write the end of the story first and then and then you figure out how do I get there and then so instead of saying to think you know I've got all these obstacles to get to get to get to the end you've already written the end and the end of that that story where we need need need to be and then you just figure out how are you going to get there and I think that that's that's I think that's kind of kind of kind of way way to look look at this great thank you both so we are reaching the end of our time before I have the closing remarks do either of you have any parting wisdom or things that you want to share that you didn't get asked today wisdom wisdom time but do I let the Bob Bob the boss go go first or let's let the Bob boss go I think you go you go Tim okay uh just a couple things um if if you're sick or ill or feel feel feeling you know out of out of sorts don't be afraid to call your your primary care don't be afraid to call the doc one one of the things that we found is that folks seem to have this fear about going to a hospital or going to see a doctor so then by the time they call call us they're very very sick so don't don't don't wait on on the seas seeking help or getting getting or calling your doc you know that you know the hospitals have planned plans in place to take care of you know things that are non-co COVID related related they can deal deal with that the last thing I would say is you know let's continue to help each other out that's what a community community does I mean when things are at our when things are at their worst we tend to be at our best and it's it's really it's help each other out look out for each other we can you could do uh in terms of terms of girl girl grocery shop shop shopping uh check the check with with your neighbors on what what what what what they might might need that's not just just a nice nice thing that will cut down on another number of people that are out and about and and go go go going to to to the stores and then you reduce your the amount amount of the amount of possible exposure so that's so that's what I you know what I was saying and really just you know let's just take take care of each other we'll we'll get get through through through this and we'll we'll be better for for it and I just add you know it's you know Tim was a great athlete as a young person not commenting now but hey hey hey hey but um it's we have a great team for the town so I just it's been a you know privileged to work with such a great team uh and I think you know just this this group here that you're seeing today really reflects that um but also that we have you know full force of police fire paramedics dispatchers on duty 24 hours a day ready to respond if there are any issues that you need we're there to respond to it call 911 and we'll be there and so that's all I have to add great great so I just have some logistics here to share we will be continuing to do this for the next couple of weeks Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon this Thursday April 30th we'll be with our health director Julie Federman and coming up on May 8th we'll have another virtual cup of Joe Friday May 8th from 8 to 9 with Paul and a couple of special guests that will have coming in and out of that session so thank you both thank you chief for your time thank you always a pleasure thank you thank you have a great day stay safe everybody be good be good guys peace bye