PROCLAMATION AND ORDER

FOR THE TOWN OF WINDSOR LOCKS, CONNECTICUT

WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, the Governor of the State of Connecticut declared a public health emergency and civil preparedness emergency for the State of Connecticut; and

 

 WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national emergency to combat the coronavirus that is currently infecting the population of the United States; and

 

 WHEREAS, on March 15, 2020 the First Selectman of the Town of Windsor Locks declared a civil preparedness emergency as a result of the clear and present risk to the public health posed by the rapid proliferation of COVID-19; and

 

 WHEREAS, in response to the public health emergency, Windsor Locks public buildings have been operating with restrictions regarding public access, and

 

 WHEREAS, in response to the public health emergency, the conduct of town meetings and public hearings, the conduct of meetings of municipal agencies, boards and commissions, the means by which members of the general public are provided access to meetings of municipal agencies, boards and commissions, and meetings between and among municipal employees have been modified in response to the Executive Orders of the Governor and the orders of the First Selectman.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, pursuant to the emergency powers assigned to me under Connecticut General Statutes 28-8a, that all restrictions regarding access to town hall by the general public are hereby removed, with the exception that all members of the general public shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face covering while they are inside town hall without regard to whether or not they have been vaccinated, until further order, and

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that town meetings and public hearings shall be conducted in person at the location designated in the order setting the town meeting or public hearing.  While it is encouraged for the convenience of the public, that the proceedings of any town meeting or public hearing shall be made available virtually or via a live-stream, the location of the meeting shall be deemed to be the physical site where the meeting is conducted and shall any voting take place at said town meeting or public hearing, all votes shall be cast at that physical site, and only votes cast at that physical site shall be counted.  It shall be within the discretion of the moderator or chairman of any such town meeting or public hearing to allow public comment via remote means.

 

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the chairman of any municipal agency, board or commission shall determine whether meetings of the agency, board or commission which he or she chairs shall be conducted in person, virtually or both in person and virtually.  If a meeting is conducted wholly or partially in person, then members of the general public must be provided access to the physical location of said meeting.  For any meeting conducted virtually, the open meeting laws of the State of Connecticut in effect, or as modified by any executive order of the Governor in effect at the time of the meeting, shall be adhered to.

 

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that municipal employees shall no longer work remotely unless specific arrangements to do so have been made with their department head and approved by the First Selectman.  Employees are still encouraged to conduct meetings remotely or via telephone if convenient to do so and to cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face covering while they are outside of their individual work areas or in meetings within municipal buildings.

 

 The above orders are effective May 25, 2021.