Solomon sets forth staggered reopening of city offices

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This week Mayor Joseph J. Solomon set forth guidelines for a staggered, strategic reopening of physical city offices to the public. 

“I want to be very clear: this is going to be a very measured, incremental reopening of our municipal offices to the public,” the mayor says in a release issued Monday.

“Now that more information about COVID-19 is available, along with guidelines for preventative measures to prevent its spread, we are ready to increase access to Warwick municipal buildings for the public,” Solomon said. “We have taken aggressive measures in Warwick to contain the spread of this virus, and I am very appreciative of the cooperation of our residents and businesses. I am very thankful to my team in Warwick for keeping our city fully operational throughout the crisis. It is going to be a very long time before we are back to ‘business as usual,’ but we do need to lay the groundwork for reopening and stabilizing our economy.”

While essential city functions have continued uninterrupted throughout this crisis, additional guidelines have been developed by RIDOH to ensure safe working conditions for all staff. In addition to state health and safety guidelines Solomon has ordered enhanced safety measures in Warwick city offices.

He proactively ordered all non-critical staff to work remotely and closed City Hall to the public before most other municipalities; additionally, Warwick was one of the first municipalities in Rhode Island to declare a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the City of Warwick, as well as the State of Rhode Island and many other municipal offices, never stopped operations and in fact cannot stop working. If municipal operations, such as water, sewer and sanitation, were not operational, a public health catastrophe could ensue, the release says.

The City of Warwick, as well as all other municipal offices, serves essential functions for the public which cannot cease. The public depends upon the continuity of numerous essential municipal operations, like building permits, deed recordings, the ability to obtain birth or death certificates, and tax collection and assessment. The reality is that some job functions are much more efficient when taking place in the office, and with the challenges of most staff working remotely, a backlog was occurring in some departments.

 Mayor Solomon has ordered, while he is broadening the public’s access to city buildings, all city workers able to work remotely will continue to do so in accordance with RIDOH’s recommendations. 

Among additional safety measures put in place throughout include:

* New plexiglass safety shields now separate all public counters.

* Employees and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. All visitors are advised to wear masks or face coverings at all times. Employees must wear masks or face coverings at all times unless they are working alone in an office.

* Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures are taking place in all offices on an hourly basis to ensure a sanitized, germ-free environment for staff and the public.

* Employees in essential City offices, such as the Tax Collector’s Office and the City Clerk’s Office, are working on staggered schedules to minimize the number of employees in the building. The public may access Warwick City Hall by appointment only.

All city operations are subject to change and are dependent upon data and guidance from RIDOH. Mayor Solomon cautions that all reopenings will be structured around ongoing social distancing and adhering to mask wearing and other public health directives. 

During the week of April 27 the following departments will be open to the public on a limited, by-appointment-only basis: Board of Canvassers, Building Department, City Clerk, Community Development, Economic Development, Planning Department, Tax Assessor and Tax Collector. 

Any residents wishing to make appointments with the departments listed should visit warwickri.gov for additional contact information. While departments are increasing access for the public, it is still highly recommended that those needing to business at Warwick City Hall try to do it online or over the phone. Many City departments have online resources and services.

 City departments that have remained open:

* Mayor Solomon's office is open and his staff is here to provide assistance. Please contact Mayor Solomon's office at (401) 738-2004 with any urgent matters, or email mayorsoffice@warwickri.com.

* All public safety departments, including Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and the Emergency Management Agency.

* The Department of Public Works will continue to collect curbside trash, recycling, and yard waste on its regular schedule.

* Wastewater treatment and critical City functions continue as usual.

* If you have business at Warwick City Hall, please try to do it online or over the phone. Many City departments have online resources and services.

The city has compiled a list of resources available for residents, including contact information and online resources for the City of Warwick, aid for businesses, financial assistance, mental health support, food services, and more. Residents are encouraged to visit warwickri.gov often for updates and information. Additionally, Mayor Solomon will continue providing updates on Facebook and Twitter as frequently as possible. He is also posting regular video updates to social media.

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  • wwkvoter

    will there be a "staggered re-closing" of this city when the money falls very short? becaue it IS going to...

    Tuesday, May 5, 2020 Report this