MAYOR LENG ISSUES EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 3;
REGARDING HAMDEN PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS & FIELDS
Playgrounds Closed, Dog Park Closed, Other Locations Remain Open with Restrictions
HAMDEN, Conn. – In response to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 Global Pandemic, and in accordance with advice from local health Officials, consistent with State Orders, Mayor Curt Balzano Leng issued Emergency Order No. 3 today in the Town of Hamden.
This order directs the closure of all Town playgrounds/playscapes and the Hamden Dog Park, while allowing open space areas, parks, trails, and athletic courts to remain open – subject to no gatherings of more than 10 occur in these areas and that strict social distancing practices, including maintaining distances of 6ft from other individuals as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, are strictly observed.
The Town and Health District are regularly monitoring restaurants, bars, salons, non-essential retail storefronts, and other commercial and residential entities to ensure compliance with the Town’s Emergency Orders, the Regional Health Department Orders and the Emergency Order issued by Governor Lamont on March 20th, 2020 (taking effect March 23rd at 8:00pm). Entities and organizations found to be out of compliance with the State Order may be subject to fines as applicable. Hamden public safety officials will be assisting with the enforcement of these essential public health safety rules.
A statement from Mayor Leng:
“Our Town, our first responders, and the State of Connecticut are doing everything we absolutely can to drive home just how serious the COVID-19 pandemic is for our communities. It is senseless to risk the lives of our loved ones and friends for a gatherings or group sports at the park or a quick dinner or drink in groups. Are the lives we could stand to lose really worth it? I want to play a pick up game of basketball and get back to coaching baseball as much as anyone, but I know that the risk now doesn’t make this safe - and I’m not willing to risk lives in my personal life or in my duty as mayor to protect the public health and safety of our community.
I implore Hamden’s residents to “GET SERIOUS” and start making the positive healthy steps we need as a community, and as a State and Country right now. Please stay 6ft apart from one another. Stop unnecessary visits with friends. I wish it were safe but it isn’t right now. Don’t get in contact with others unless you need to. So enjoy a nice walk in the fresh air and even our parks, but far away from others. Please keep visits to stores that are allowed to stay open to visits as needed, and not as currently practiced. We have very quickly entered a new time, and we need to adjust and take it seriously to save lives. Please exercise common sense. What our future community looks like, and many lives, depends on our collective actions today.”
EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 3 REGARDING PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND FIELDS IN THE TOWN OF HAMDEN
WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, the Governor of the State of Connecticut declared a public health emergency and a civil preparedness emergency for the State of Connecticut, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Sections 19a-131 and 28-9, in response to the global pandemic of COVID-19 disease associated with a novel coronavirus that is currently affecting multiple countries and states; and
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, the Governor of the state of Connecticut issued Executive Order No. 7, limiting the number of individual that may convene, meet or otherwise gather throughout the State, to no more than 250 People or more for social and recreational activities, including but not limited to, community, civic, leisure, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; movie screenings; plays or performances; conventions; and similar activities; 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 16, 2020, the Mayor of the Town of Hamden, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 28-8a(a) and 28-22a and Section 5-5 A. of the Charter, declared a public emergency for the Town of Hamden due to the significant danger to public health posed by the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the public health and safety of the public as a result of the global pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Governor of the State of Connecticut amended and modified his Executive Order No. 7, with Executive Order No. 7D, to require that all such gatherings as contemplated and addressed by Executive Order No. 7 be limited to no more than 50 or more people; and , included “religious, spiritual or worship gatherings; and
WHEREAS, due to the significant adverse impact on public health of COVID-19, the Mayor is compelled to take action for the purpose of ensuring civil preparedness and mitigating the adverse effects of this emergency situation upon the residents of Hamden; and
WHEREAS, among best practices and prescribed measures of mitigation in light of this public health emergency is social distancing; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control has recommended that social gatherings be limited to no more than ten (10) people to optimize the benefits of social distancing; and
WHEREAS, the powers granted by the Connecticut General Statutes Sections 28-8a(8), 28-1(8) and 28-22, and Section 5-5 B. of Charter, the Mayor shall have and exercise all executive and administrative powers conferred upon any municipal chief executive during a public emergency; and
WHEREAS, the duties assigned by the Charter to the Mayor of the Town of Hamden require said Mayor to cause the Charter and the Ordinances of the Town of Hamden and laws to be executed and enforced and to conserve the peace within the Town. The Mayor shall be responsible for good order and efficient government of the Town; and
WHEREAS, in response to the issuance of declarations of public health emergency and civil preparedness emergency, a declaration of national emergency and the spread of COVID-19 to residents of the Town of Hamden; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the Town of Hamden to promote public health and to ensure civil preparedness to minimize the adverse impacts of the current public health emergency and civil preparedness emergency posed by the spread of COVID-19 of Hamden of a public health emergency and civil preparedness emergency posed by the spread of COVID-19.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that, pursuant to the powers and duties granted in the Connecticut General Statutes and the Charter and Ordinances of the Town of Hamden, and in response to the civil preparedness and public health emergency now facing the Town of Hamden, and in accordance with the advice from the Town’s public health officials, the following shall be effective on Sunday, March 21, at 12:01 a.m. through April 30, 2020 unless earlier modified, extended or terminated:
1. Playgrounds shall be closed.
2. The Town of Hamden Dog Park shall be closed.
3. Parks, trails, outdoor recreational areas and open space areas other than those stated above, courts of any type, including, but not limited to tennis and basketball; and playing fields, including but not limited to baseball, soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey, that are under the control of the Town of Hamden shall remain open subject to the following: no gatherings of more than 10 along with social distancing protocols of not less than 6 feet apart as advised by the Centers for Disease Control.
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDER that this order will be made publicly available for inspection and review in the Town Clerk’s Office and shall be posted on the Town of Hamden website
