Selectmen extend closure of parks, public buildings
By Mike Berger
Town fields and parks are now closed until June 30. (Mike Tureski photo)
In a series of actions concerning the COVID-19 emergency conditions, the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night voted to extend the closure of town parks and public ballfields until June 30 and the closure of town buildings until May 18. Earlier on Tuesday, Governor Charlie Baker had announced a two-week extension on the closure of all non-essential businesses in Massachusetts (until May 18) as well as a continuation of the Department of Public Health’s statewide stay-at-home advisory.
In keeping with another DPH advisory, the Canton Board of Health on Monday issued its own advisory strongly urging residents to wear face coverings in public. However, Selectmen Chairman Chris Connolly said after Tuesday’s meeting that unlike other Massachusetts cities and towns, Canton has no plans to fine residents for not adhering to the advisory. Connolly said there are a number of outreach efforts underway to promote the wearing of face coverings or masks. The board did confirm a recommendation by Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall that all town employees working in municipal buildings who could not meet the six-foot social distancing requirement should wear a face mask. (See page 3 for more on the BOH advisory on face coverings).
On the subject of Memorial Day, Canton Veterans Agent Darin Devine reported that as of Tuesday, he was still planning exercises for the holiday. However, Devine said if the governor’s stay-at-home order were to be extended to Memorial Day, then he would work with the American Legion Post 24 to conduct a closed ceremony — consisting of the laying of wreaths, a roll call of fallen heroes, and some brief remarks — that would be pre-recorded and then shown on Canton Community Television on Memorial Day.
In other COVID-19 news, Stacy Gorman and Lisa Lopez of the Canton Community Preservation Committee (CCPC) said they are working with Town Planner Laura Smead to draft an article for the June 22 special town meeting to use $52,000 in Community Preservation money to aid disadvantaged residents who cannot make their monthly rents. A formal article will be drafted for review by the CCPC, BOS, Finance Committee, and town counsel.
Meanwhile, selectmen gave the go-ahead to Smead to apply for a $50,000 state grant to provide aid to Canton small businesses. Aspinwall also reported that the Canton Association of Business and Industry (CABI) and the Neponset River Regional Chamber are looking into additional aid programs for area businesses.
Selectmen will also ask Town Clerk Tracy Kenney to give an update at the board’s next meeting regarding preparations for the June 16 town election and plans for early voting if the governor’s stay-at-home order were to impact the election …
See this week’s Canton Citizen for more highlights from the April 28 selectmen’s meeting. Click here to order your subscription today.
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Posted by Mike Berger
on May 1 2020. Filed under News, Town Government.
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