Latest in a series of posts on City Government 
Mayor Donchez And Department Directors Answer Second Round
Of Resident’s Questions
Did you view the City’s second response to our questions yesterday? Or were you waiting for the Gadfly summary/outline?
Awww, Gadfly had a cluttered Friday afternoon. Here ’tis now.
Mayor Donchez:
- wear masks, social distant, wash hands
- City Hall continues closed but that’s reviewed weekly
- Parking Authority is back enforcing but red-bagging areas for quick pick up, while furloughing 28 employees
- Governor has jurisdiction over businesses open/closed, essential non-essential (waivers), not City
- Awaiting policy from governor on large events: Musik-Fest, Blueberry, Celtic
- Awaiting governor policy on pools, construction on Memorial has begun again but unlikely opening this year
- Yard waste open, evaluating pick-up policy but closed for now
- Recycling Center closed, evaluating there too
- unlikely that overlay of Johnston Dr will take place this year ($650,000-700,000 in a year when the budget deficit may be $4m.)
- thanks to Wind Creek for payment and food contribution
- Fire Dept will not be doing birthday visits
- proud of City work force doing volunteer work
- Housing Authority and School District are separate entities
- Awaiting directive from the governor on library opening
- consult and sign on at City web site for updates
- thanks to all for cooperation
- revised yard waste pick-up schedule, consult City web site
Kristen Wenrich, Health Bureau Director (min. 9:44):
- 591 cases
- 25-49 age group == highest positivity, 43%
- 16.6% are long-term care residents
- 24 deaths, 54% associated with long-term care facilities
- 1.5-4% daily increase in cases, monitoring trend
- increase in deaths from people on ventilators at earlier counting and also increase in deaths in long-term care facilities
- see dashboard — updated daily — on City web site COVID-19 page for numbers
- need for more research on immunity of those who have developed antibodies
- we are still in “red” phase, with stay-at-home restriction
- outlined “yellow” phase and what will get us there
- wearing mask outside recommended when social distancing not possible
- outbreaks in 7 long-term care facilities
- State Dept of Health is looking at a testing program, only aware of one local site testing everybody
- we do not license local facilities, State does, so our role is guidance and liaison, working with state consultant ECRI on local infection-control practices
- tracking situations in workplaces and providing guidance there
- State Health Dept is working with food-production sites, Pa Dept of Agriculture and OSHA also involved in oversight of food-production facilities
- Working with New Bethany Ministries on homeless, working on post-pandemic plans for homeless too
- info on Hazard Control program, funding and scope
Bob Novatnack, Emergency Management Services Director (min. 18:29):
- equipment supply good
- Police, Fire, EMS strong: no positive cases
- quick turn-around time
- info on making non-emergency calls, best to call 911 as quickest way to get a response
- open burning info
- following CDC guidelines
Alicia Karner, Director, Community and Economic Development (min. 22:28):
- continuing in operation, issuing permits, developing Small Business Relief Fund
- info on building of home pools
- info on landlord/tenant, evictions
Eric Evans, Business Administrator (min. 24:38):
- cabinet is meeting twice a week
- length and depth of financial impact uncertain
- lots necessarily speculative
- major income sources: property taxes, earned income tax, casino host fee
- were ahead when slow down started, 2nd quarter will tell us more
- shortfall of several million for sure
- deferring capital projects (equipment, roads)
- staffing: freeze, some furloughs
- closures: recycling, etc.
- decisions of summer programs week of May 18
- saving $1/2m in personnel
- fuel prices low
- health charges down
- can reduce $1 1/2m
- good financial shape before: rainy day fund etc.
- Golf course: opened last week, improvements, well received, new policies
Mayor Donchez (min. 35:24):
- thanks to dept heads and public
- be safe
tip o’ the hat!