 Okay, hello and welcome everybody to our community chat for Thursday, May 21st. Thank you all for joining us today. I just want to mention we are continuing our live community chats every Thursday at noon for the next couple of weeks. As a reminder this webinar is being recorded in this chat to ask a question from the zoom application please click the q&a button or raise your hand. If you're joining us from a telephone please press star nine. Just a quick reminder here, all non public safety related town services will be closed Monday, May 25th in honor of Memorial Day. So today we have public health director Julie Fetterman joining the town manager Paul Balkaman and myself. Welcome to you both. Nice to see you. Good to see you again. Any updates for folks before we allow time for q&a. Sure. So, this is a big week everyone was pointing to Monday, May 18 was which was, you know, when the governor was going to announce all the reopenings and it was somewhat kind of informative but there are a lot of unanswered questions so we can answer any of the questions you have for us today. But there was there was some, it did, to me sort of mark up pivot towards how do we start to reopen as opposed to how do we stay closed down and, and I think that that's a very careful path that we have to watch that we have to walk. So I want to be very careful about that. So we can talk more about that as we move forward. Julie. Yeah, thank you, Paul. I think I will echo that we want to be very careful. I think everyone was really anticipating the date of May 18. And I think I'm hearing some confusions out there, some concerns, some excitement. One thing that I wanted to say is that so certain things are going to be opening up in phase one, and then as we've heard a little later in phase two, but some of the things that we've been doing for months and months now, we still need to continue to do. We're still balancing that with these sort of like new freedoms of being able to go to your house of worship or, you know, has some construction happening, and other things that will be coming. It's still really important for people to be wearing their face masks. So we're still the goal is still social distancing so staying home when you can. I want to do some of these new things but being careful and mindful of keeping your six foot distance and always having a mask with you so that you're wearing a mask when you're going into an establishment that you are wearing a mask in the grocery store. And remembering to do that even when you're out on a crowded sidewalk and you're with other people. One thing I wanted to address is that this is of course coinciding with Memorial Day weekend. And summer is still here, beautiful weather has arrived and we all really want to enjoy it. I want to put the emphasis on, you know, the beautiful weather and being able to be outside and being able to recreate and go for walks and take bike rides. Additionally, people like to get together over Memorial Day weekend and we're still, we're still saying that getting together with other people is really not safe you want to have the six foot distance. There is the less than 10 people is as as a group is still an effect. And I think one of the things I've been hearing from folks is that with this new change of things opening up a little bit, the, the kind of responsibility becomes even more individual to really be trying to do the right thing because it feels a little different to think, Oh, well, I can go to the beach. I just have to social distance. Does that mean things or have all changed. And so, just recognizing that it's going to be hard to say, No, I really can't come to your house and hang out in the background backyard with 20 people or, you know, I know it's the holiday but, you know, I'm, I'm still going to be sticking to my routine here with just keeping the social distancing. So just wanted to put that out there for folks because I think it's, it's hard, everyone's been doing this for a really long time and been doing a great job, but it's hard. Thank you, Julie. Okay, we have a one of our first questions kind of jumps off of what you just said, you thinking about warm weather. We've gotten this a couple of times now is puffers pond open or closed. It seems like people are there but the signs are saying it's closed. So what's the deal with puffers pond right now. For either of you. Paul, I think I'll let you go into the details on that you must be you might get most up to date. So, so it's a good question we did put because that question does come up a lot. We put out a sort of advisory on that so puffers pond is closed. It is available for people who are walking through or if you're fishing, but there isn't a the beach itself is closed for people who want to just lay around and enjoy the sun. It's not the place for that. And I think that, you know, that's all that's basically it's just it's closed. We're monitoring on a daily basis we have police officers up there periodically to ensure that people aren't sort of settling down. We may take additional steps in terms of regulating parking, because there are new guidance that just came out this week from the state on how they're managing their beaches and their public areas like that. So it's, we don't we haven't settled on exactly how we're going to be doing it but in the be doing it but in the meantime, we are going to have enforcement officers up there. And I guess the only other thing that we that we put out in that release is that we are actively working on a plan to make it the most possibly the safest environment, if and when things do reopen at the beach. And one other thing people should not be swimming. I, you know, I think we all there's a couple of years ago where a young man went swimming at this time of year and it didn't didn't survive and it wasn't because it's just because the water is still so cold. So even though it's going to be 85 degrees tomorrow. It's the water is really cold and you cramp up before you know it and just ask people. Please don't to try to try to swim at this time of year. Okay, so we got a question that just came in asking, will there be a parade or ceremony on Memorial Day. So the vet our vet director veteran services has been working with our veterans organizations. To organize something virtually, they're putting together a virtual program that will be broadcast out. And know that the town council passed a resolution on Monday, and they all sort of commented on it at that time. It's not a time to be encouraging gatherings of people, especially older veterans who are the ones who are most likely to show up, unfortunately, but they're the one but it's there the people who've been most dedicated. So, while the play flag will be raised and lowered as required, there won't be a formal ceremony of any sort and we will not be encouraging anyone to come to town to the town common to observe that it will be done there is the director of as preparing or has prepared a video type of presentation for everybody to watch. And we will share that out once once we have it available on all our communication channels. So I just want to remind the new folks who've just joined into the room feel free to put your questions into the Q&A button or raise your hand to ask your question live if you're on the phone press star nine to raise your hand. Okay, so this question is not from me, but asking for a friend. Can I get can I get my hair done now and who gets to say if they are allowed to open or not. So I'll take that one. That's a great question. I know that a lot of people are wanting to do that. And so the governor has said that may 25 that hair establishments may open. So that's next week. And so we have heard from some establishments that are, you know, looking for guidance to make sure they're going to be opening in the correct way. The governor has created guidelines for every type of sector that's reopening. So those guidelines are available to businesses, businesses can also contact inspection services to get more assistance if they feel like they need to know more about how to open safely. But beginning May 25 businesses that choose to be open, maybe open. And they don't, they don't have to come into town hall to get a permit or anything right they can just right self certified. Yes, there's a there's a self attestation checklist. You said it. Yeah, we're starting to learn that word. Paul and I haven't. So what that is, is that every business is going to have this document. And it sort of takes them through what they need to do in order to open safely. And so that's sort of their guidance tool and also their checklist to so really make it sort of operational. Again, we are hearing from businesses that want some additional help with with how to do this right. And so we're very happy to give people advice if that's what they need. So to look at those documents, we have them in a news item on the bottom of our homepage as well as on Amherst MA.gov slash reopen, you can see all the industry or sector specific checklists there as well. We get this question, at least once or twice a week so I'll put it out there again. If I see someone who isn't wearing a mask. What should I do. Well, I think the mask has really come to a symbolize a lot for folks. I mean, I think one thing that people need to remember is that some people aren't able to wear a mask because of some type of health condition that you can't see and that you're not aware of. So I think that if you're not comfortable being near someone who doesn't have a mask on then, which is appropriate then you keep your six foot distance. I mean, really again what we're looking for is the social distancing the six feet. The mask is for when that is really hard to do. So, I think you see someone without a mask. I would assume positive intent. I would assume that that person is not able to wear a mask we're not looking for people to be saying to other people wears your mask. We have a follow up question on again some of the reopening plans. This person says it seems kind of confusing what is allowed to open and what has to stay closed. I think it's hard to list out all the things that have to stay closed. So I think if we stay with anything that has been allowed to open be open at this point. So examples of that are food establishments that provide curbside pickup or delivery stores that sell any kind of vegetable plant can be open. So there are these businesses these what are deemed essential businesses that have been open right along. Now, what we're said what the governor is saying is he's got phase one, and in phase one some things were allowed to open this Monday and some next Monday. So this Monday was construction firearms. Houses of worship. I feel like I'm forgetting one thing about manufacturing, small manufacturing or large manufacturing. So that's what could open starting this Monday the 18th. On the 25th, what can open is a variety of things which are listed on those websites that that Brianna listed but some of them are car washes, hair places, barbers offices. So offices have guidance for how they can reopen on the 25th. Yeah, so those are some of the main things I think it's really, you know, for instance, drive-ins but we don't have a drive-in in Amherst. So I think going to look at that list is really helpful. And there's a follow up question. Is a hair salon free to offer its other services, for example, manicures. Good question. No, it's just hair services. Another question from the room. Where can I get tested in the Amherst area. I do not have COVID-19 I just want to know my status before reuniting with my family and grandchildren. Great question. Yeah, great question. So right now, CVS in Northampton has a drive up testing system. So if you go if you log on to CVS comm in Northampton, you can sign up, then you drive up to the drive up window and CVS, and they give you a little swab kit. And you swab. I don't know if it's your note the front of your nose or your mouth but nothing deep. And you put it back in an envelope and they send it to a lab and results come back within. It's one to two days. So you can go to CVS comm I'm not promoting a business here. I am promoting a testing site that we have. For some reason you felt like you've had some some exposure. Of course, you contact your healthcare provider. And you talk that through with them because Cooley Dickinson is also doing drive through testing. But that would only be for someone who had actually had an exposure. So we had a question that came in via email to the group prior to the session today so I'm going to read that question now. Little context to the question. Since UMass is pending decision regarding its fall semester has a direct impact on the health and safety of local residents. What is the town doing to ensure the decision UMass makes does not put Amherst residents at unnecessary risk and our town officials included in the ongoing discussions presently going on at the university level. Yeah, that's a it's a concern of ours when we talk about that with our internal group we have regular conversations with the university at a certain level. We are not engaged with the university and conversations about whether they will open or not that is not happening that any conversations with the town about that. We understand the implications of the college's opening in the university we will stay engaged with them as they start to implement it. They're very good at communicating what they're going to do to us. But they're not consulting with us to say should we do these things or not. I think that's actually happening my night that's those kinds of conversations are happening at a very high level probably at the gubernatorial level in fact. But just that's just my speculation. So, yes, I think that what whatever they decide will have an impact on the town and we want to be aware of that and we will be prepared for it. Great. Thank you. Another question is this person saying people in their circle feel like this thing is over, and they're ready to go back to normal. They're wondering what they can say in response to that or what they can do in response to that. I think that's a very good question. I think that's that's coming up a lot. So, I think one way to look at this is one of the goals was to flatten that curve. Remember we were always talking about the curve. So, one of the ways that the state has decided that it's time to cautiously start reopening is that is that curve. So just to remind folks that curve is partly about the concept of overwhelming the health care system. So at this point as they look at the populations who are in the hospitals at the number of ICU beds available at the number of positive test results. And overall censuses in hospital in the hospital, they see a trend downward. So we are seeing less positive cases. We're seeing the ICUs start to have beds open up. And so this is the criteria that's been used. But I do think it's worth mentioning that a lot of this has happened because people have stayed home. And that's why I was being so cautious in the beginning about the fact that we still have to keep doing what we've been doing social distancing mask wearing. And that becomes even more important as people do go out more and take advantage of various services and businesses. The other thing I want to say is that so the governor is calling this this period of time safer at home. Part of that is that his recommendation is that people over the age of 65 should be staying home. And so I think that while people can go out and can participate in things. It's really important that people not think this is over at all. This is an opportunity for people to be able to get back to work to start utilizing more businesses. It's not about this being over at all. So I just want to add something because the peak is usually the halfway point. It's not the end. It's a halfway point. It's like half time of a football game. We all know remember the Atlanta Falcon doing the Patriot game is 28 to three. But but that means like we've had 6000 deaths in the state in the first half of this. So that means we have another 6000 as we climb down this mountain. So the and that means there's thousands of people who will still get infected. There'll be thousands of people have to be entered into ICU. It's not like an end. It's just that we have now we're starting to go down a little bit. It's but there's still a large large number of people who are going to be under the second half of the curve who are going to be impacted. So as much work as we did on the first half we have to keep doing it on the second half and that's the biggest challenge because I think mentally especially with the weather changing people are thinking oh I'm done and I'm sick of doing this. And it's just the thing that we have to this is the hardest hardest part right now is to be disciplined to to keep doing the things that we've been doing and you start reading in other states that have opened up and then they're suddenly they're ticking up two weeks later. We don't want to do that here. So I've got a question suggestion slash comment from one of our attendees. Can the town hang signs banners etc around town, promoting social distancing and mask wearing. Not everyone gets the town's email alerts. Yeah, that's an interesting idea. We can let's ponder on that we'll figure that figure that out I think there's a lot of knowledge in the community about social distancing I think what will be more important is as businesses start to open up for retail that that that that point of this communication is going to be more important than generic signs on the billboards or something like saying promote social distancing. I don't think we can have much of an impact as a town, but in a micro level. For instance, when we the council approved the opening of the farmers market for and they intend to open on May 30. So one of their big concerns was having adequate signage at the farmers market to make sure people understand the rules going in there that you have to have a mask to be able to enter that you can't bring a pet with you because it's because it's not a social event. It's a transaction to purchase farmers goods. So I think that sort of point of sale information is where we'd want to put that put our effort on that. Absolutely. So, I just want to remind people to ask their questions via q amp a or raise your hand. While we wait for another question. I just, I was asked to share this notice of a public hearing next Wednesday May 27 regarding community development block grant advisory committee cares act funding Amherst is eligible to apply for up to $400,000 for assistance programs and public social services so just want to put that out in the in the airwaves there will be a public hearing next Wednesday at 4pm virtually all of this information is on our website that you can hear activity proposals from agencies and organizations or, you know, add additional comments about how the cares act funding is spent in our community. So, I'd like to add something a similar note on Monday that staff coming from our building commissioner and planning director and staff presented a really innovative proposal to the town council that would add a new section to the zoning bylaw that would that would last for about six months that would allow restaurants to be to relax the zoning so that restaurants could open up and utilize outdoor seating areas a lot more a lot very much quicker than they normally would under our normal zoning bylaw. And this would give them an answer within 10 days once they put in their application. And we in this would allow some seating on sidewalks and things like that it's not carte blanche, but they would have to go through a review process but it would be a staff review versus a committee review process which makes things go much quicker, because there are hosting requirements and things that committees have to live with. So, I don't think anybody else in the state has done something like this, our town attorney who represents hundreds of communities that they've never seen it. So this is very innovative it's a really a pro business, trying to get the art restaurants, specifically to open up. It might be a restaurant that has a parking lot in front of them they can use that for outdoor seating, properly social distancing because we are able to use some rights of way, either sidewalks or even carving out some space on the street to allow people to sit. So we have a lot of interest from our businesses and it's really exciting. The council will go through this so they have to do a public hearing. And there's a 14 day notice period so those things all we're all comply with but we think early June, the council is very eager to move on this. So, I'm not seeing any additional questions and we are coming up to our 30 minutes. So, I would love if either of you had any last comments or words or calls to action to share now's the time. Calls to action. I like that. So just to remind folks that we're really looking for either donations of handcloth masks or materials to make those masks. There you go. Then we can put them in Ziploc bags deliver them to families to individuals to folks who don't have access to getting masks. And, and we need sewers. So, there it and this is Brianna's Q she will say where you can email about this I think. Yes, so you can sign up online to either request a mask to volunteer to be to be a sewer or to donate materials at Amherst MA go slash get involved. You can also call the town manager's office at 413-259-3002. We have had many more requests than we have available masks so we've luckily had some great sewers dropping things off as they be become available. And a couple of a business has donated to us reached out to us from from the state of Texas and sent us some some masks that they've flipped to manufacturing so if you know of any any businesses that are doing by one donate one to a cause we'd love to be that cause. Yeah, so Amherst MA of slash get involved, or the town manager's office you can call anytime. Anything else from you Paul. No, I think that that doesn't that's great. And they have, you know, it's Memorial Day so I hope people have a enjoyable weekend and remember our veterans. A lot of us have family who've been veterans and it is a member. It's an important time. Absolutely. And one last thing before we go. There's district meetings happening all remotely so for those of you who want to join and meet up with your district counselors tonight at 630 will be district to which is my district. I'll see you there. And then next week we have districts 13 and five meeting and all this information is on our website. On the homepage. Stay safe. Thank you all for joining us. Thank you. Thank you. Happy Memorial Day.