MAYOR LENG ISSUES EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 4;
ALL HAMDEN PARKS, FIELDS & TOWN OUTDOOR PROPERTIES LIMITED TO ENSURE PHYSICAL DISTANCING
NO CONGREGATION OF GROUPS & SOCIAL DISTANCING FROM ALL (OF NO LESS THAN 6FT) MAINTAINED AT ALL PROPERTIES UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE TOWN OF HAMDEN
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. 4 today in the Town of Hamden.
This order expands upon orders that have been issued designed to keep residents separated, in order to exercise the physical and social distancing required to reduce exposure to COVID19 and slow the spread.
Previous orders completely closed all Town playgrounds/playscapes and the Hamden Dog Park while allowing open space areas, parks, trails, and athletic fields/courts to remain open with guidance and signage installed. This new order directors that ABSOLUTELY no CONGREGATION occurs in these areas, consistent with the Governor’s orders and guidance. Further, it Orders that STRICT PHYSICAL/SOCIAL DISTANCING OF NOT LESS THAN 6 FEET between individuals BE MAINTAINED at all times as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Town and Health District are regularly monitoring restaurants, bars, salons, all 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 Orders issued by Governor Lamont. Entities and organizations found to be out of compliance with the State Order may be subject to enforcement actions and fines as applicable. Hamden public safety officials are 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 very serious the COVID-19 pandemic is for our residents and their friends and families. If we don’t stay away from one another outside of times absolutely essential, we are literally risking lives of our loved ones and friends. We all have responsibility to slow the spread of this deadly virus and reduce exposure. I’m pleading with every one of our residents to please take this extremely seriously.”
EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 4 REGARDING TOWN PARKS, FIELDS,
AND OUTDOOR PROPERTIES 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, on March 26, 2020, the Governor of the State of Connecticut amended and modified his Executive Order No. 7D, with Executive Order 7N, to restrict social and recreational gatherings to not more than 5 people with the exception of religious, spiritual or worship gatherings which shall not be subject to increased restrictions; and
WHEREAS, among best practices and prescribed measures of mitigation in light of this public health emergency is social distancing; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Sections 28-8a(a), 28-1(8) and 28-22a, the Chief Executive Officer of the municipality may take such action as necessary to mitigate the emergency; 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that in accordance with Section 5-5 , C of the Charter which affords me the opportunity to faithfully execute the law and Connecticut General Statutes Section 28-8a(a) which authorizes me to “take such actions” that I deem “necessary to mitigate the major disaster or emergency”, I hereby order that effective immediately, my Emergency Order No. 3 shall be modified and there shall be absolutely no congregation of groups and that social distancing of not less than 6 feet shall be maintained at parks (except playgrounds and the dog park which shall remain closed), trails, outdoor recreational areas, outdoor properties and open space areas, 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, through April 30, 2020 unless earlier modified, extended or terminated.
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.
