New occupancy limits could impact staffing at Town Hall

The first two days of appointment-only business at Town Hall went well and were largely uneventful, but on Tuesday afternoon, Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall learned of the governor’s new occupancy orders, which apply to office spaces and could potentially impact staffing at Memorial Hall.

Aspinwall said the new, more restrictive order, which goes into effect on December 26, would reduce maximum occupancy in most industries and businesses from 40 to 25 percent. He told the Select Board at their meeting Tuesday night that he has to reexamine staffing limits at Town Hall, specifically in the Town Clerk’s office, DPW, Select Board office, and the Building Department. He said he will review staffing with the town’s COVID-19 Task Force on Wednesday and then make a determination as to how many people can work at Town Hall or work remotely from home.

Aspinwall also outlined the new federal COVID relief bill that was approved by Congress earlier this week following protracted negotiations. He said the bill could provide a financial boost to local communities and specifically provide funding for vaccine distribution, education, child care, SNAP benefits and nutrition, and transportation.

Aspinwall is still concerned about the rising COVID numbers in Canton and across the region as well as a recent increase in COVID hospitalization rates.

All will be reviewed at the next Select Board meeting on Tuesday, January 12, as well as during the COVID Task Force webinar scheduled for Wednesday, December 30, at 4 p.m.

In other news from Tuesday’s night’s meeting:

* Select Board member Mark Porter announced that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming spring town election. Porter said it was a family decision as his business and his new family are requiring more of his time. He said he may serve on a committee or help the town in some way in the future. Porter has provided valuable leadership and expertise to the town as a Finance Committee member and chair, Select Board member, and chair of the Traffic Committee. The other Select Board member up for reelection is Vice Chair Mike Loughran.

* The board authorized the opening of the new bridge leading from Neponset Street to Revolution Way — the main access road into the Paul Revere Heritage Site — subject to the traffic lights becoming operational at the new intersection. Lights were installed on Tuesday but have not been turned on as the town is still awaiting a transformer from Eversource. The board asked Aspinwall to contact Eversource to expedite the request …

See this week’s Citizen for more highlights from the December 22 Select Board meeting. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=71983

Posted by Mike Berger on Dec 25 2020. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.