By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 June 2020 at 3:36 pm
Rate in May is about triple the unemployed from May 2019
The local and state unemployment rates, while far higher than they were a year ago, have come down from the highs in April.
The state Department of Labor reports the unemployment rate in Orleans was 11.6 percent in May and 14.2 percent state-wide.
In April it was 15.8 percent in Orleans and 15.0 percent state-wide.
In Orleans, the number of people working was 15,000 in May, compared to 16,400 in May 2019. The number of unemployed went from 700 in May 2019 to 2,000 last month.
In Orleans, some businesses were able to reopen in Phase 1 on May 15, with Phase 2 starting on May 29. Phase 3 began on June 12. Orleans County and the rest of the Finger Lakes Region can start in Phase 4 on Friday (June 26).
The 11.6 percent unemployment rate in Orleans County compares to a 4.0 percent rate in May 2019, long before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The unemployment rates in May for other nearby counties include:
Niagara at 16.0 percent, Erie at 13.9 percent; Livingston at 11.0 percent; Monroe at 9.6 percent, Ontario is at 10.1 percent; Genesee at 10.1 percent; and Wyoming at 10.1 percent.
When Orleans County hit 15.8 percent unemployed in April, it was the first time Orleans was above 10 percent in unemployment since February 2013 (10.6 percent) and January 2013 (11.2 percent).
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 June 2020 at 9:23 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County and Town of Albion highway workers on Aug. 19, 2019 work on a new culvert on Clarendon Road. The county is seeking federal funding to help pay for more culvert, bridge and road work.
Orleans County officials have identified about $40 million worth of infrastructure work in a list of projects that could move forward in future federal stimulus bills.
The New York State Association of Counties on Monday sent a letter to President Trump and Congressional leaders calling for immediate action on infrastructure investment as part of any future economic stimulus packages.
The letter included a list of infrastructure projects from 40 counties totaling more than $7.35 billion.
The Orleans County, the list includes four main initiatives that total $40,362,555.
In Orleans County, the projects on the list include:
• Orleans/Niagara Regional Alliance Broadband Initiative: Total cost at $10,131,655.
That project would expand high-speed wireless internet to which would expand educational and economic opportunities for consumer sin remote locations. It would allow residents to take advantage of telemedicine opportunities, and allow students to do distance learning at colleges, universities and other platforms.
“We have experienced major issues during the coronavirus pandemic for educational and telemedicine’s access in rural communities,” according to a June 2 letter by County Legislator Ken DeRoller, listing the infrastructure needs in the county.
• Emergency Management Organization Operational Center/Training Facility on West Countyhouse Road in Albion at a cost of $350,000.
This project which correct deficiencies in the current buildings which have caused operational issues, according to a fact sheet from the county.
The project would provide a sufficient meeting room, training room and office space, and would be ADA complaint.
• Orleans County infrastructure improvement initiative with roads, bridges and culverts at a cost of $17,425,500.
John Papponetti, county DPW superintendent, said the county will have bridges and culverts is pushing to have some of the preliminary engineering done on the projects, with cost estimates, so they would be eligible for federal stimulus funding.
• Orleans County Shared Water Service Infrastructure Project at a cost of $12,455,400.
This project would add transmission lines and water storage tanks, increasing fire flows, storage and reducing the water rate. It would eliminate some dead ends, replace some aging infrastructure and add another major transmission line. It would also increase the capacity of water in the county for future economic and residential development needs.
NYSAC projects that counties across New York State (outside of New York City) currently have more $10.8 billion in infrastructure funding needs and that fully funding these projects could create or save up to 200,000 jobs, helping to revitalize local economies as they begin the process of recovering from the economic devastation wrought by the pandemic.
“Now is the time to innovate, to invest in our future, and to rebuild a stronger, smarter infrastructure for the good of all,” said NYSAC President John F. Marren. “It is in this spirit of renewal that we presented these project recommendations to our federal partners. These projects represent a significant opportunity to jumpstart our economy, add construction and trade jobs to our workforce, and strengthen our infrastructure for the next generation of Americans.”
The renewed call for federal funding comes as counties grapple with dramatic drops in revenues. Sales tax revenues for the month of May were down 32 percent statewide, in line with NYSAC’s most recent Coronavirus Economic Impact Report which projects that counties outside New York City will face revenue losses of up to $2 billion and the potential of another $1.5 billion in state budget cuts.
Despite these historic revenue losses, counties are required under state law to fully fund and administer all state and federal programs, which are in high demand during the pandemic and recession.
“Every community in New York has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 and the corresponding economic shutdown in response to the virus,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “The infrastructure projects that we are presenting to Congress and the President today are a once in a generation opportunity to provide an economic shot in the arm and reshape these communities better and stronger than ever before.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2020 at 10:24 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans County Courthouse in Albion is illumined in several colors at night this week in honor of the Class of 2020 at Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina.
The dome has six lights. The county Department of Public Works is using filters made by Takeform in Medina to display six colors: red, blue, white, orange, purple and yellow.
All six colors will be shown beginning this evening through Sunday night. Albion has purple and yellow for its school colors, Holley is red and white, Kendall is blue and white, Lyndonville is orange and black, and Medina is blue and red.
“We understand that during this challenging time,” said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer. “We all need to recognize the accomplishments our 2020 graduates have achieved. We are proud of each and every one of you and wish you much success as you begin the next chapter in your lives.”
In the past the dome has been pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and green to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2020 at 5:57 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Courthouse in Albion will be illumined in six different colors this week in honor of the senior classes at Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina.
The dome has six lights. The county Department of Public Works is using filters made by Takeform in Medina to display six colors: red, blue, white, orange, purple and yellow.
All six colors will be shown beginning this evening through Sunday night.
“We understand that during this challenging time,” said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer. “We all need to recognize the accomplishments our 2020 graduates have achieved. We are proud of each and every one of you and wish you much success as you begin the next chapter in your lives.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 June 2020 at 10:23 am
Polls also will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Orleans County Board of Elections has already received 4,288 absentee ballots for Tuesday’s special election and primary.
The office received requests for 7,197 absentees. The county currently has 23,111 registered voters.
In addition to the absentee option, the Board of Elections offered early voting over nine days from June 13 until June 21. There were 151 early voters.
The polls will also be open on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. To see a list of the polling places, click here.
There are primaries at the local level (Orleans County Clerk, Republican Committees in Murray and Ridgeway), and federal positions (special election for NY-27th and Republican Primary for NY-27th) and the Democratic Presidential primary.
The County Board of Elections encourages voters to wear a mask if they go to the polls on Tuesday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2020 at 9:35 pm
‘We can not sit idle as the haphazard application of phase transitions continues to negatively affect our business owners and constituents.’
ALBION — The chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature sent a letter today to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, asking him to authorize all businesses in the county to fully reopen.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Lynne Johnson is chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature.
“The businesses of Orleans County have done an incredible job of persevering during this pandemic,” Lynne Johnson wrote to Cuomo. “They have been adaptive to the new normal, supportive of fellow business owners, and understanding of an ever-changing logistical landscape as it relates to health protocols and reopening guidance.”
Orleans County is currently in phase 3 of a four-phase reopening. Phase 4 could start on Friday, June 26, if the Covid-19 numbers in the Finger Lakes Region don’t spike with hospitalizations, infections and ICU beds.
Johnson said Cuomo and the state have given “mixed messages” in the first three phases, and often given too short of notice to businesses.
The state also initially favored big box businesses over “mom and pop” stores on Main Street, Johnson wrote in her letter.
“Some sectors were in Phase 2, then pushed to Phase 3, and then allowed ultimately to open in Phase 2,” Johnson writes in her letter. “The list goes on and on of the communication challenges. We do realize, as you previously articulated, you are ‘building the plane as you fly it.’”
Johnson also said there is “an issue lately of credibility” with large-scale peaceful gatherings “which we support,” she writes.
However, freedom to assembly for other purposes, even with social distancing or at reduced density, is only allowed with strict guidelines.
‘We will not continue to play middleman for the State’s messaging confusion.’
Johnson tells the governor she understands he has authority with his executive orders.
“We respect your position, your powers and your authority,” she writes. “That being said, we have lost respect for this process, the methodology, and the approach. We can not sit idle as the haphazard application of phase transitions continues to negatively affect our business owners and constituents.”
Johnson said the state should put out the guidelines for Phase 4 soon so those industries and businesses can ramp up for their reopening.
“The less than 24 hours notice provided in the Phase 1 and Phase 2 transitions was simply unfair and impractical,” Johnson writes.
“We have urged the business community to use discretion and caution and have stressed adherence to strict health, safety and sanitation protocols,” she said. “We are here, as we have been through this pandemic, to assist these business owners with PPE needs and questions on best practices, social distancing and mask-wearing.”
Johnson said the county officials aren’t playing politics with public health.
“Nothing about this statement is reckless or cavalier,” she said. “Our decision-making is measured, modest and rational.”
While the governor can open and close elements of the economy through executive orders, “full adherence, cooperation and unequivocal allegiance are not requirements in our job descriptions for Legislators. We will not continue to play middleman for the State’s messaging confusion.”
Johnson said the positive health data in the county and region warrant moving to Phase 4.
“We trust and respect our business community partners and know that they will be considerate and careful in their reopening process,” she concluded.
Press Release, Orleans County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch
ALBION – We are pleased to announce that the County Office Building now has three lock boxes near the entrance to assist our residents to conduct business is a safe and healthy manner when the public needs to drop off forms or renewals.
There is one lockbox for the Department of Motor Vehicles, a general lockbox for the County Office Building and one lockbox for the Department of Social Services. Each box is labeled, DMV, COB, DSS.
Our Department of Motor Vehicles is now accepting appointments for in person transactions at DMV. Please call (585) 589-3214 to schedule your appointment.
We have modified our procedures for entering the County Office Building. The procedures include COVID-19 symptoms screening which includes a non-evasive temperature reading, a sign-in log, and passing through a metal detector. Of course, social distancing is important in all of our buildings as you go to the location required to conduct your business.
When entering all of our buildings, we ask that you wear a face mask or cloth face-covering while inside the building. If however, you are unable to wear a face mask or cloth face-covering due to a medical or health reason, we ask that our complete an acknowledgement that you or a member of your party declines to wear a face mask or cloth face-covering due to a medical or health reason. This also would need to be completed if a minor child is not wearing a face mask or cloth face-covering.
The Treasurer’s Office also has a lockbox located outside of Central Hall for your convenience in dropping documents for the Treasurer’s Office.
We are also maintaining the forms resource area for the Department of Social Services. Forms or applications are there near the entrance of the County Office Building for your convenience.
These measures have been put into place to provide services to our residents in a safe and healthy environment as we continue to move forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently we are still open for business, to make an appointment to conduct your business please call:
• Clerk’s Building
County Clerk: (585) 589-5334
Real Property: (585) 589-5400
• County Office Building
DMV: (585) 589-3214
Elections: (585) 589-3274
Job Development: (585) 589-2772
Legislature: (585) 589-7053
Office for the Aging: (585) 589-3191
Personnel and Self Insurance: (585) 589-3186
Planning and Development: (585) 589-3198
Social Services: (585) 589-7000
Tourism: (585) 589-3102
• Emergency Management Office: (585) 589-4414
• Department of Public Works: (585) 589-6145
• Mental Health: (585) 589-7066
• Central Hall
Historian: (585) 589-4174
Treasurer’s Office: (585) 589-5353
• Veteran’s Services: (585) 589-3219
(Editor’s Note: No appointment is needed for early voting at the Board of Elections.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2020 at 8:39 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Hoag Library in Albion has been using its sign to encourage people to fill out the Census.
Orleans County residents continue to have a low response rate to filling out the federal Census. The county, as of Thursday, had a 50.5 percent response rate. That is below the state response rate of 56.8 percent and the national rate of 61.5 percent.
The county’s response rate is among the worst in Western New York. The rates for other WNY counties include:
Erie, 66.4
Monroe, 63.8
Genesee, 61.0
Livingston, 59.9
Chautauqua, 55.0
Wyoming, 54.6
Orleans, 50.5
Cattaraugus, 49.7
Allegany, 45.7
Among Orleans County towns, Yates has the lowest response rate at 37.0 percent while Clarendon has the highest at 63.7 percent.
Clarendon, 63.7
Barre, 61.5
Shelby, 59.3
Ridgeway, 52.6
Gaines, 51.9
Murray, 51.9
Albion, 47.3
Kendall, 45.1
Carlton, 39.7
Yates, 37.0
The Orleans County response rate has increased about 2 percent in the past month. It was 48.8 percent on May 17.
In 2010, Orleans had a 66.8 percent response to the Census, which is required to be filled out by law every 10 years.
Click here to see a map on the Census Bureau showing the response rates of towns, counties and states.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2020 at 11:18 am
Park Strategies gives Orleans ‘a louder voice’ with state and federal governments
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has renewed a contract with a lobbyist at $90,000 a year.
Park Strategies will be paid $5,000 a month ($60,000 a year) for its assistance with state government affairs and $2,500 a month ($30,000 a year) for its lobbying efforts with the federal government on behalf of the county.
The County Legislature renewed the contract during its May 27 meeting.
Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson said Park Strategies has been effective in helping the county secure state and federal aid, and also sets up important meetings with county officials and representatives from the state and federal governments.
“We may be a little county but they have given us a louder voice,” Johnson said Park Strategies.
She said the firm will be advocating on behalf of the county for the state and federal governments to maintain reimbursements and other funding during an economic downtown when the county budget will be stressed.
A top priority for Park will be assisting the county with obtaining state or federal assistance to expand broadband internet in the county, especially in rural areas. The lack of high-speed internet puts businesses, students and residents at a disadvantage.
Businesses often can’t file reports or download information without high-speed internet. Students also often can’t do research or their homework with broadband.
“We are going to see this through,” Johnson said about broadband.
This will be the sixth year the county has contracted with Park Strategies. County officials believe the relationship has benefitted residents. Park helped make the county’s case for canal bridges to be repaired. The state is spending about $10.7 million on seven bridges.
The state also has repaved portions of the Lake Ontario State Parkway, committed to dredging harbors on Lake Ontario and also allocated funds to protect lakeshore properties from flooding.
The state has also approved more than $15 million in REDI projects in Orleans County, to protect and strengthen infrastructure and public assets.
Johnson said Park Strategies sends a weekly report, reviewing state and federal legislation that could have an impact on the county.
“We don’t view this as an extra,” Johnson said about retaining Park. “We view this as necessary for state aid and grants. They are worth their weight in gold.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 June 2020 at 10:05 am
ALBION – There were 30 Orleans County residents who cast ballots in early voting over the weekend, with 20 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday, according to the County Board of Elections.
Orleans County is having nine days of early voting at the County Administration Building on Route 31 in Albion.
There are primaries at the local level (Orleans County Clerk, Republican Committees in Murray and Ridgeway), and federal positions (special election for NY-27th and Republican Primary for NY-27th) and the Democratic Presidential primary.
The County Board of Elections encourages voters to wear a mask for early voting.
The early voting schedule today through Sunday includes:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2020 at 9:03 am
Orleans County will have nine days of early voting beginning on Saturday at the Board of Elections at the County Administration Building on Route 31 in Albion.
The voting includes all registered voters in a special election to fill a vacancy in the 27 th Congressional District. There are also primaries at the local level, and state and federal positions, including the Democratic Presidential primary.
The County Board of Elections encourages voters to wear a mask for early voting.
The early voting schedule includes:
Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, June 15, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, June 16, from noon to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 17, from noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, June 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The elections on the ballot include:
• 27th Congressional District: The 27th Congressional seat has been vacant since Chris Collins resigned on Sept. 30. Collins was sentenced on Jan. 17 to 26 months in federal prison for participating in a scheme to commit insider trading and for making false statements to federal law enforcement agents when interviewed about his conduct. He also was fined $200,000.
The special election was set for April 28 but was pushed back about two months due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
The special election includes the following candidates:
Nathan D. McMurray – Democratic, Working Families
Chris Jacobs – Republican, Independence
Michael J. Gammariello – Green
Duane Whitmer – Libertarian
• Republican Primary for 27th District: There will also be a Republican primary on June 23 to see who gets the Republican line in the November election for a full two-year term. Jacobs, Beth Parlato and Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw are pursuing the Republican line.
• Presidential Primary: A Democratic Presidential primary will go on even though Joe Biden has the nomination secured. His name will be on the ballot, along with other candidates who have withdrawn, including Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Michael Bennet, Deval Patrick, Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang.
The local primaries include the Orleans County Clerk, and the Republican Committees in Ridgeway and Murray.
• County Clerk: There are two Republican candidates are running for Orleans County Clerk. Nadine Hanlon, the current clerk of the County Legislature, is running against Diane Shampine, the current acting clerk. She assumed the post after Karen Lake-Maynard retired.
• Republican Committees in Murray and Ridgeway:
In Murray, there are primaries for three of the districts, with three candidates seeking two positions in District 3, District 5 and District 6.
In District 3, the candidates include Kathleen Case, Anthony Peone and Kerri Neale.
In District 5, the candidates include Lynn Wood, Cynthia Oliver and Ronald Vendetti.
In District 6, the candidates include Kellie Gregoire, Robert Miller and Adam R. Moore.
In Ridgeway, there are three candidates for two positions with District 2 on the Ridgeway Republican Committee. The candidates include Virginia Nicholson, David Stalker and Ayesha Kreutz.
All polling sites will be open in each of the 10 towns on June 23 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2020 at 8:17 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Employees with Environmental Enterprises Inc. in Cincinnati sort some the household hazardous waste at one of the stations on August 17, 2018. Orleans hosted a household hazardous waste collection each year since 2015. Before that it was every two years.
ALBION — Orleans County won’t be holding its annual household hazardous waste collection event this year. County officials expect the event to be back next year, likely in August.
The event allows residents to dispose of tires, propane tanks, auto/marine batteries and other hazardous household waste in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
The county typically pays Environmental Enterprises, Inc. of Cincinnati about $18,000 to collect and remove the household hazardous waste, with the state them reimbursing the county about half of the costs.
Orleans County last year accepted tires for the first time. There was a big response from the public with about 1,000 tires dropped off at by the Orleans County Highway Department on West Academy Street.
The county has been holding the household hazardous waste collection on annual basis since 2015. Before that it was biennially.
Last year residents also dropped off 349 propane tanks and 52 auto/marine batteries. They also disposed of oil-based paints, solvents, polishes/waxes, aerosols, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, adhesives & resins, motor oil & filters, acids, corrosives, antifreeze and other household hazardous waste.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2020 at 5:20 pm
4,000 have filed for unemployment in Orleans in past 11 weeks
Orleans County and the state are still seeing large numbers of unemployment claims being filed, but at least the weekly filings are started to decrease.
Last week, there were 136 unemployment claims filed in the county and 13,379 statewide. That was down from 259 in Orleans the previous week and 195,958 statewide during the week of May 23.
The unemployment filings have far exceeded a normal week since mid-March, when the state closed or restricted businesses across the state to try to slow the spread of Covid-19.
In Orleans, the week of March 28 had the most unemployment filings at 824. The state had the most during the week of April 11 with 399,015.
Although the numbers were down last week to one of the lowest levels since late March, they are still significantly higher than the same week a year ago. Orleans had 37 people file for unemployment during the last week of May in 2019, compared to 136 last week.
Statewide, there were 13,379 unemployment filings the last week of May in 2019, compared to 85,479 last week. That’s about five times as many than a year ago.
Orleans County has now had 4,011 unemployment claims in the past 11 weeks. Orleans County has a workforce of about 17,000 people. The 4,011 unemployment claims represent about 23 percent of the workforce.
The state has now had 2,552,683 file for unemployment since March 14.
Here are the weekly filings among the GLOW counties and state-wide:
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2020 at 11:28 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Community Action employees distribute Foodlink boxes and also bags of apples from LynOaken Farms on May 1 in Albion.
Food distributions will continue in Orleans County and will be expanded from one to three boxes.
The Orleans County Office for the Aging, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, and the Calvary Tabernacle Assembly of God will team up for the distributions.
There have been Foodlink distributions in April and May, with 300 boxes available for the distributions in Albion and Medina.
The distributions will expand from one to three boxes and Holley will be included this month. The schedule includes:
Friday, June 5 – Community Action, Main Street Store, Albion, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Friday, June 12 – Medina Calvary Cupboard, Medina, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Friday, June 19 – Community Action, Main Street Store, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Friday, June 26 – Holley Community Center, Through Community Action, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The new round of food distributions will introduce a new state-funded program called Nourish New York. This funding allows Foodlink to purchase local product.
On a federal level, the USDA has implemented a new initiative called CFAP (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program). In this program, distributors who would normally serve schools, restaurants, and municipal programs are able to pre-pack boxes of perishable product and deliver to distributions being done all over the country, said Melissa Blanar, OFA director in Orleans County.
These boxes will be packed in three types: Mixed Dairy, Cooked Meat and Produce. Each box will be approximately 25 lbs. and is meant for a family, Blanar said.
During the food distributions in June, each vehicle with have three boxes set in a trunk or back of a truck. There will be 900 boxes at each one, with enough for 300 different families.
The OFA and Community Action want to continue the food distributions in July and August, but they need volunteers to help with the distributions.
Volunteers need to be able to lift 20- to 25-pound boxes. People interested should contact Blanar at the Office for the Aging at 589-3191 or Annette Finch at Community Action, 589-5605.
Blanar said the groups would like to have the food distributions the first and third Fridays in Albion, the second Friday in Medina, and the fourth Friday possibly rotating to other spot sin the county.
The guidelines for the events includes:
This will be a drive-thru model with no walk-ins. People must stay in car and have their ID visible and do not roll your window down.
Please have trunk cleaned out so boxes of emergency food can be put into it. Have your trunk open and ready. Once your trunk is closed and tapped, you may drive away.
This will be a no-touch distribution and proper social distancing must be maintained at all time.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2020 at 9:44 am
Pettit urges businesses to work on plans for reopening: ‘My advice is everybody should be ready’
Paul Pettit
Paul Pettit, the public health director for Genesee and Orleans counties, said start of Phase 2 for the two counties and the Finger Lakes region is “something to celebrate,” especially in the wake of discouraging news about so many community festivals and events being cancelled.
“I want to thank the residents of Genesee and Orleans counties,” Pettit said on Friday during a weekly press briefing. “It’s not easy. It’s not anything anyone wants to do.”
Pettit was speaking about residents being encouraged to stay home as much as possible the past 10 weeks. They have needed to adhere to social distancing and now must wear masks or facial coverings when in stores.
Pettit said residents have overwhelmingly met a new challenge of civic duty.
The public health director knows the restrictions and the shifting guidelines from the state can be frustrating for the community. Friday was much anticipated as the start of Phase 2 for the region. But the announcement from Gov. Cuomo didn’t come until 1 in the afternoon.
Pettit said the local officials often find out the governor’s directives during his daily press conferences. There typically isn’t any lead time for the public health officials, and then they have to wait a few days for more details from the state. Pettit said the frequent directives, with clear guidance, “makes it very challenging” for the local officials.
The businesses that open in Phase 2 will do so differently than before the Covid-19 pandemic. They will have to reduce capacity of people inside their businesses by 50 percent, and will need to insist that people wear masks and maintain social distancing. There needs to be hand sanitizer available and business owners will need to frequently clean spaces used by the public.
The Phase 2 businesses include offices; real estate; in-store retail; vehicle sales, leases and rentals; retail rental, repair, and cleaning; commercial building management; and hair salons and barbershops.
Pettit urged local businesses to have plans ready that include precautions to protect employees and the public from Covid-19.
“To reopen, every business or organization needs to have a plan to reopen,” Pettit said. “The plans need to incorporate all aspects of social distancing, capacity, face masks, and enhanced cleaning to protect employees and people who use the facilities.”
The plans need to be customized to reflect the layout and square footage of the buildings and the public spaces.
“My advice is everybody should be ready,” Pettit said.
Four other regions besides the Finger Lakes also moved to Phase 2: Central New York, North Country, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley regions.
Local officials from the five regions were vocal in criticizing the state for how Phase 2 was unveiled. The officials said the governor should have given more notice so businesses could schedule employees, order inventory and be ready.
Cuomo, speaking at his news conference on Friday, said experts were continuing to study the data to make sure the Phase 1 opening from May 15 didn’t lead to a spike in hospitalizations from Covid-19.
“Their data has been reviewed and the experts say to us it’s safe to move forward, because people have been smart and you haven’t seen the spike,” Cuomo said about the five regions.
Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson on Friday afternoon, during a weekly news briefing, said she looks forward to seeing the economy be reopened.
“We are feeling the economic devastation here,” she said. “We have a lot of mom and pop businesses. It’s going to take a long time to recover.”
She praised local agencies that are organizing food distributions and trying to meet peoples’ basic needs. Many people, who have been self sufficient, are lining up at the food distributions, she said.
Bob Duffy
Bob Duffy, the former state lieutenant governor with Cuomo, is leading the Finer Lakes control room, made up of officials from nine counties.
He responded to criticism about the governor’s roll-out of Phase 2.
“The governor always said it would be at least two weeks in between phases,” Duffy said during a Friday afternoon call with reporters.
He said Cuomo wanted to study the data to make sure it was safe to move to Phase 2, without a surge in cases that could overwhelm the hospital system.
Duffy urged the community to continue social distancing, wearing a mask and taking other precautions.
“I think we are on a roll right here,” Duffy said. “We just have to keep going.”
