1st Selectman Jim Marpe provides this update, on a variety of topics:
Town Facilities
As part of our efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution, Town Hall and indoor town facilities continue to be closed to walk-in services. All town services are being conducted on-site or remotely. and telephones and emails are monitored. Appointments may be made on an as-needed basis.
If you have a matter that requires resolution by town staff, please use the staff directory on the website (www.westportct.gov/directory) to call or email the office, and allow adequate time for a response.
The possibility of conducting in-person public meetings is being explored. In the meantime, public meetings of the Boards of Finance and Selectmen, the Representative Town Meeting, Conservation Commission, Planning & Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals can be viewed on the town’s website (westportct.gov/watch) and Westport TV on Channel 79 (Optimum) and Channel 6020 (Frontier). Public meetings of the Board of Education can be viewed on Channel 78 (Optimum) and Channel 6021 (Frontier).
Masks and Social Distancing
It is imperative that masks be worn while inside or when unable to maintain social distancing in all public places. Masks may be removed provided you are with people who reside in your household, and maintaining a 6-foot distance from others.
Any other time, whether you are outside at Compo Beach, on a field, walking on town sidewalks and roadways, or entering an indoor location (including the restrooms at Compo Beach) you must wear a mask. You protect yourself, your family and your neighbors when you abide by this rule.
Many residents continue to express concern about the lack of face coverings on individuals that they encounter in public spaces. While it is impossible to know if a group includes only those people who reside in the same household, it is usually obvious when they do not.
Gatherings of younger people without face coverings have been observed. I respectfully ask that parents speak to their children about the importance of wearing a mask. We know that children are not impervious to the virus, and steps must be taken to insure the safety and health of all. Each of us has a personal responsibility to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
I Love Westport Campaign
If you haven’t already seen the #ILoveWestport videos on social media, please go to the town’s website (Westportct.gov/ilovewestport) and view these one minute video vignettes.
The #ILoveWestport campaign asks Westporters to make a personal promise to our community to stop the spread of COVID-19. We love our town, so let’s keep our neighbors and our employees healthy. Please make a pledge and share your video at #Ilovewestport.
Statement from the Westport Weston Health District on Connecticut’s Travel Advisory
Given the concerning surge in COVID-19 cases reported in many states across the country, it’s more important than ever to take precautions and pay strict attention to the state’s recent travel advisory. The Westport Weston Health District urges residents to keep up their prevention efforts.
Governor Lamont’s travel advisory went into effect on June 25. Anyone traveling into Connecticut from a state that has a new daily positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average, must self-quarantine for 14 days from the last contact within the identified state. This also applies to Connecticut residents who return from those states.
Those who test negative for COVID-19 are not subject to the travel advisory. In order to avoid the advisory, any traveler from the restricted states should be tested no sooner than 72 hours prior to departing.
For more information, a listing of restricted states and frequently asked questions, please visit the State’s site https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Knowledge-Base/Travel-In-or-Out-of-CT
Please continue to stay connected by signing up or following us at:
- Online: www.westportct.gov/COVID19
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Seen (and admired) on Hillandale Road:
(Photo/Bill Dedman)
And finally … Joyeux Quatorze Juillet! Happy Bastille Day!
Dear Dan,
I’ve written in a couple of times before, but it’s still happening. Many–even most–do not wear masks on the very narrow sidewalks leading to the beach from Hillspoint Road, and I’ve noticed the same problem on the footpath across the bridge on Ferry Lane. Also by people hanging out near the lines at Joey’s waiting for their orders.
I so wish that everyone would take this horrible plague seriously and take care of one another by keeping distance and wearing masks.
Thank you, Valerie
I was at Shop Rite in Norwalk, yesterday and last week.
The security guard outside by the door, doesn’t where a masks nor the employee’s picking up the food carriages in the parking lot. I spoke with the manager of the store who was very professional. He told me, to shop in The store you must wear a mask, it’s to hot outside to ask the employees picking up the carts to wear a mask and the security guard “doesn’t wear a mask unless he enter the store”. The security card is there to speak with people and customers are walking past him all the time. When I left the store last night he was on the his phone without a masks. Stop & Shop and Whole Foods have employees wearing their masks outside picking up food carts.
The manager also told me , if a person has a medical condition and “, so they say. Can’t be asked asked to leave.
The reason for these problems he said, Connecticut doesn’t have a “law”, that states you must where a “masks”. If people are sick and state they can’t where a mad, they should have someone shopping for them for their safety and everyone else.
New York has a law that states, once you leave the your home “you must wear a face mask”, we should too.
I am sixty five years old, had cancer and Termatic Brain Injury, Connecticut Should have a law as New York does. We worked with New York and New Jersey and we recently had a day with no deaths from coronavirus, let’s work toward another.
My hope is that you will help me, get the government pass a law in Connecticut too?8
Thank you,
Wendy Reade (916-302-6428) wmaxreade@gmail.com
14 Edgewater Commons Lane Westport, CT 06880
Sent from my iPad
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I noticed same issue of the lack of masks which is stated above when I take a drive along the shoreline from Westport to Southport Beach Pequot Ave area.
It’s not just Joey’s but the Riverside Ave from Bridge St to the Saugatuck train station.
I’m surprise about Shop Rite of Norwalk lacks of masks for employees regardless if they’re private employees (security) or paid employees of Shop Rite.
There’s an ordinance in place for everyone to wear mask inside and outside a business from the City of Norwalk from the Mayor Harry Rilling and the Norwalk Health Department.
Eleven Shop Rite/Grade A Markets in Connecticut are owned by the Cingari family.of Stamford along with the Norwalk store.
I personally don’t shop on a regular basis at Shop Rite in Norwalk. I shop Stew’s, Stop & Shop, IGA Cranbury of Norwalk and CVS. All these stores have been in compliance with the City of Norwalk and the local governments of Westport, Darien and Fairfield ordinances of wearing masks.
I found the phone numbers of City Hall and Health Department of Norwalk if anyone wishes to contact them City Hall phone number 203 854 3000 M-F 8am to 430pm. (The phone probably prompts you to pick a department)
Norwalk Police Front Desk also uses that same number just ask them for information on how to proceed with who to contact or report a situation.
This is City Halls email customerservice@norwalkct.org and the
Health Department M-F 830am to 5pm 203 854 7776
Please, wear them correctly. The proper way to wear a mask or bandana it is OVER the nose not under.
I walk the beach path a Compo daily and would say 95% of the people do not wear masks. About 80% I’d say don’t move to the side when they congregate on the pathway chatting with others and I figure about 70% don’t fall back into a single file when I and my husband are approaching.- we’re constantly moving out of the way. We are seniors and most all we encounter are younger than us. It’s disrespectful to not adhere to wearing a mask and not to practice social distancing and I’ll add not being courteous to seniors regardless of the current virus situation. Not sure if a law would fix it but it would be nice to have one in place.
I was going to say exactly the same thing, Irene. The “younger people” that Jim Marpe mentions include those of high school and college age. I could count on one hand the number of face masks I’ve seen them wearing and I’ve only encountered a few who have been thoughtful enough to step off the narrow path in order to keep a safe distance from older people. They seem completely oblivious. I’ve never been a “Get off my lawn!” type of person, but I’m getting there now, thanks to this virus and the self absorbed attitudes of some.
How nutty is it that the “I Love Westport” campaign, Marpe and the Westport Health folks all work hard toward limiting cases of Covid and yet, sup’t Carice will open the schools this fall…., this action puts ALL Westporters in danger,thus, rendering his action malfeasant….at best. If he thinks such action can be taken at this time without the dramatic increase in Covid cases, he makes the ostrich look far sighted.
That’s SCARICE…sorry, Doc.