PRESS RELEASE
May 4, 2020
Update on Town & Village services regarding COVID-19
Public Works returns to work in full; libraries to offer curbside service; leash laws in place at Indian Brook Park
The Town of Essex and Village of Essex Junction staff are resuming in-person services where permitted by Gov. Scott’s latest addendum to his Stay Home Stay Safe order. The municipalities are also requiring residents to adhere to certain guidelines when visiting municipal facilities.
Departmental updates include the following:
Clerk
The Clerk’s Office at 81 Main St. will be open for land record searches by appointment Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Only one member of the public at a time will be allowed in the Clerk’s Office. Visitors must wear face masks, must pass a screening test, and will be given gloves before entering the building. All other Clerk services will be offered remotely by phone, email, website, or drop box.
Libraries
Brownell and Essex Free libraries will begin offering curbside service for materials loaning on Monday, May 4. The service will be available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Brownell Library and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Essex Free Library.
Parks & Recreation
At Indian Brook Park, all pets must be leashed at all times. Violations may result in the suspension or termination of passes. As always, Indian Brook users must have a valid pass.
Public Works
As of Wednesday, April 29, Public Works field staff has returned to regular work schedules (start times of shifts may be staggered to minimize contact between teams of employees). This includes all Town Highway and Water-Sewer employees, and all Village Public Works employees. Employees are practicing social distancing and wearing face masks if they need to share vehicles or if they are working in close proximity to other employees and the public.
Town Public Works office staff is working split shifts and can be reached via e-mail or telephone (878-1344) during normal working hours. Village Public Works can be reached at 878-6944. Requests for service can also be submitted via the See-Click-Fix app. All Public Works Buildings remain closed to the public at the present time.
In all other departments, municipal staff is working remotely. All departments remain available to assist customers by phone and electronically, even as the physical locations remain closed to the public through at least May 15 in compliance with the Governor’s Order. Residents and customers are asked to conduct all municipal business electronically, by phone, or by mail. For any business that cannot be conducted remotely, staff will be available by appointment only.
When entering municipal buildings, the public must wear masks and gloves. Staff will also ask screening questions before allowing visitors to enter.
The Town and Village are committed to doing our part to keep the public and our staff healthy while preventing the spread of COVID-19, while also providing the best public service possible. We are closely monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19. The best sources to stay informed are the Vermont Department of Health (www.healthvermont.gov) and the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) websites. These resources are updated daily and contain helpful tips for hygiene and preventing the spread of the virus.
We will continue to evaluate the situation and use guidance from the Vermont Health Department. Additional information will be shared with any changes to Town and Village services. Please check www.essexvt.org and www.essexjunction.org for updates.
For more information, contact Greg Duggan, Deputy Manager/Public Information Officer (802-878-1341, gduggan@essex.org) or Tammy Getchell, Assistant to the Manager/Deputy Public Information Officer (802-878-6951, tgetchell@essex.org).