COVID INFORMATION & EMERGENCY ORDERS

Declaration of the Town Supervisor

Declaring an Extension to the Local State of Emergency in the Town of Westerlo, Albany County, State of New York

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, I issued a Proclamation of a local state of emergency for the Town of Westerlo in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which was and continues to be a pandemic public health emergency of international, state, and local concern threatening the health and welfare of the residents of the Town of Westerlo;

WHEREAS, under the March 16, 2020 declaration of a local state of emergency, I issued the following emergency orders protect life and health and to bring the emergency situation under control:

1. In cooperation with the Westerlo Library Director, I am directing the Westerlo Library be closed. I further direct the Westerlo Town Hall be closed to the public with exception of the March 17th regularly scheduled Town Board meeting. Additionally, all planning board meetings, zoning board meetings, and all committee meetings are cancelled.
2. The Town Highway Department employees will no longer report for work unless in the event their essential services are required.

Additionally, the Town Transfer Station will ONLY be open on Saturday 8:00 am — 3:45 pm, Sunday 8:00 am — 11:45 am.

WHEREAS, the findings and conditions that led to the issuance of such Proclamation have continued and worsened.

NOW, THEREFORE, l, William F. Bichteman Jr., Supervisor of the Town of Westerlo, by virtue of the authority vested in me under S 24 of the New York State Executive Law, do hereby proclaim and declare a continued local state of emergency for the Town of Westerlo and order as follows:

1. The state of local emergency due to COVID-19 as set forth above shall be extended and continue to be in effect, and shall terminate on June 16, 2020, unless rescinded on an earlier date by me; and
2. All of the orders and directives set forth in my initial Proclamation, effective March 17, 2020, are hereby renewed and re-issued as if fully incorporated herein.

I FURTHER ORDER THE FOLLOWING:

(1) The Executive Order cancelling Town Board meetings, planning board meetings, zoning board meetings and committee meetings is hereby modified to allow virtual meetings in accordance with the Governors Executive order 202.1 modifying the Open Meetings Law. Town Board meetings, planning board meetings, zoning board meetings and comprehensive plan committee meetings conducted on the following:

1. The meeting is absolutely and immediately necessary to the function of Town of Westerlo government.
2. The meeting agenda sets forth the imperative.
3. Board meetings be hosted from the Town Hall in a designated space, utilizing the Town’s platform (zoom) and equipment.
4. Committee meetings may be held remotely and will employ the Town’s designated platform (zoom).
5. Social distancing, face coverings and body temperature screenings apply to Town Hall meetings.
6. Proposed meeting schedules require legal notices as specified in the Governors Executive Order and approval of the Town Supervisor.

(2) The Executive Order modifying the transfer station hours of operation is rescinded. The Transfer Station will resume their regular hours.

Failure to obey this order is a criminal offense.

Failure to obey this order is a criminal offense punishable under New York State Executive Law S 24. In additional to all other criminal or civil sanction allowed under the law, any person who violates any provision of this Proclamation or any Emergency promulgated thereunder, including provisions carried over from my initial Proclamation, or who violates any currently effective provision of any executive order or proclamation issued by the Governor of the State of New York related to COVID-19, shall be guilty, upon conviction, of an offense punishable by a fine not less than $250 nor more than $1 ,OOO or by imprisionment for a period not exceeding 15 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Signed and ORDERED: this 15th of May 2020 in Town of Westerlo, N.Y.

William F. Bichteman Jr.
Town Supervisor

Download a copy of the Extension of Proclamation of Local State of Emergency dated May 15th .

WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York; and

WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to be continue;

THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to temporarily suspend or modify any statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation, or parts thereof, of any agency during a State disaster emergency, if compliance with such statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation would prevent, hinder, or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster emergency or if necessary to assist or aid in coping with such disaster, I hereby temporarily suspend or modify, for the period from the date of this Executive Order through May 20, 2020 the following:

• Article 5 of the Real Property Tax Law, and analogous provisions of any other general or special laws that require a tentative assessment roll to be filed on or before June 1, 2020, to allow the tentative and final assessment rolls to be filed, at local option, up to 30 days later than otherwise allowable, to allow an assessing unit to set a date for hearing assessment complaints that is at least 21 days after the filing of the tentative roll, to allow notice of the filing of the tentative roll to be published solely online so long as the date for hearing complaints is prominently displayed, to suspend in-person inspection of the tentative roll, and to allow local Boards of Assessment Review to hear complaints remotely by conference call or similar service, provided that complainants can present their complaints through such service and the public has the ability to view or listen to such proceeding;

Download a copy of the Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Tax Roll

Declaration of the Town Supervisor

Declaring an Extension to the Local State of Emergency in the Town of Westerlo, Albany County, State of New York

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, I issued a Proclamation of a local state of emergency for the Town of Westerlo in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which was and continues to be a pandemic public health emergency of international, state, and local concern threatening the health and welfare of the residents of the Town of Westerlo;

WHEREAS, under the March 16, 2020 declaration of a local state of emergency, I issued the following emergency orders protect life and health and to bring the emergency situation under control:

1. In cooperation with the Westerlo Library Director, I am directing the Westerlo Library be closed. I further direct the Westerlo Town Hall be closed to the public with exception of the March 17th regularly scheduled Town Board meeting. Additionally, all planning board meetings, zoning board meetings, and all committee meetings are cancelled.
2. The Town Highway Department employees will no longer report for work unless in the event their essential services are required.

Additionally, the Town Transfer Station will ONLY be open on Saturday 8:00 am — 3:45 pm, Sunday 8:00 am — 11:45 am.

WHEREAS, the findings and conditions that led to the issuance of such Proclamation have continued and worsened.

NOW, THEREFORE, l, William F. Bichteman Jr., Supervisor of the Town of Westerlo, by virtue of the authority vested in me under S 24 of the New York State Executive Law, do hereby proclaim and declare a continued local state of emergency for the Town of Westerlo and order as follows:

1. The state of local emergency due to COVID-19 as set forth above shall be extended and continue to be in effect, and shall terminate on May 15, 2020, unless rescinded on an earlier date by me; and
2. All of the orders and directives set forth in my initial Proclamation, effective March 17, 2020, are hereby renewed and re-issued as if fully incorporated herein.

I FURTHER ORDER THE FOLLOWING:

(1) The Executive Order cancelling Town Board meetings, planning board meetings, zoning board meetings and committee meetings is hereby modified to allow virtual meetings in accordance with the Governors Executive order 202.1 modifying the Open Meetings Law. Town Board meetings, planning board meetings, zoning board meetings and comprehensive plan committee meetings conducted on the following:

1. The meeting is absolutely and immediately necessary to the function of Town of Westerlo government.
2. The meeting agenda sets forth the imperative.
3. Board meetings be hosted from the Town Hall in a designated space, utilizing the Town’s platform (zoom) and equipment.
4. Committee meetings may be held remotely and will employ the Town’s designated platform (zoom).
5. Social distancing, face coverings and body temperature screenings apply to Town Hall meetings.
6. Proposed meeting schedules require legal notices as specified in the Governors Executive Order and approval of the Town Supervisor.

Failure to obey this order is a criminal offense.

Failure to obey this order is a criminal offense punishable under New York State Executive Law S 24. In additional to all other criminal or civil sanction allowed under the law, any person who violates any provision of this Proclamation or any Emergency promulgated thereunder, including provisions carried over from my initial Proclamation, or who violates any currently effective provision of any executive order or proclamation issued by the Governor of the State of New York related to COVID-19, shall be guilty, upon conviction, of an offense punishable by a fine not less than $250 nor more than $1 ,OOO or by imprisionment for a period not exceeding 15 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Signed and ORDERED: this 16th of April 2020 at 12:01 a.m. in Town of Westerlo, N.Y.

William F. Bichteman Jr.
Town Supervisor

Download a copy of the Extension of Proclamation of Local State of Emergency dated April 16th .

The Governor has issued new executive orders:
Workforce reduction is at 100% – Governor said it will be effective on Sunday.

• These will be enforced – these are legal provisions. Will be civil fine and
  mandatory closure for any business not in compliance.

• NOTE: ESSENTIAL SERVICES DO NOT HAVE TO BE REDUCED.

Restrictions on “vulnerable populations”: seniors over 70, immune compromised people, those with underlying illnesses. They MUST:

• Remain indoors
• Go outside for solitary exercise
• Pre-screen all visitors and aides by taking their temperature
• NOT visit households with multiple people
• All vulnerable persons must wear a mask in the company of others
• To greatest extent possible, everyone in the presence of vulnerable people should wear a mask
• Stay 6 feet away from individuals
• Do not take public transportation unless urgent and absolutely necessary.

Provisions for non-vulnerable populations:

• Non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size and for any reason are cancelled.
• Concentration of individuals outside their homes must be limited to workers for essential services and social distancing should be practiced.
• Social distancing must be used in public.
• Businesses and entities that are essential must implement rules to help facilitate social distancing of at least 6 feet.
• Limit use of public transportation.
• Use telehealth

Going to stop any evictions of any residential or commercial tenants for 90 days. “words matter… it is not shelter in place. People are scared and people panic. Shelter in place is used currently for an active shooter or a school shooting.” I expect new directives from the Governor that will impact local governments later this evening. I will try to keep you updated.

Bill Bichteman
Supervisor

Download a copy of the Executive Order Dated March 20th.

As the Chief Executive of the Town of WesterIo, I, William F. Bichteman Jr., in accordance with the Declaration of Local State of Emergency issued on March 16, 2020, and under authority given me under Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law, hereby ORDERS as follows:

The Town Highway Department employees will no Ionger report for work unless in the event their essential services are required.

Additionally, the Town Transfer Station will ONLY be open on Saturday 8:00 am – 3:45 pm, Sunday 8:00 am -11:45 am. ***As of 5/6, this has been rescinded and the Tuesday hours will resume on 5/12/2020

This ORDER is effective immediately and shall appIy until rescinded by the ChiefExecutive or by operation of law.

Failure to obey this order is a criminal offense.

Signed and ORDERED: this 18th of March 2020 at 12:01 a.m. in Town of Westerlo, N.Y.

William F. Bichteman Jr.
Town Supervisor

Download a copy of the Local Emergency Order Dated March 18th.