By JEFF TIRRELL
(GREENFIELD, MA) –Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegarnter has announced the extension of the stay-at-home advisory and non-essential business closure until May 18. This matches the move made earlier this week at the state level by Governor Charlie Baker.
Wedegartner is encouraging city residents to continue to stay at home as much as possible and also maintain social distancing and wearing masks or other face coverings when in public. She said this has been the best way to combat the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the COVID 19 disease that has sickened over one million Americans.
In Massachusetts and the City of Greenfield, the responsible use of open spaces is allowed under this advisory and will continue under this extension. Residents may use open spaces for recreation, trails for hiking, but are urged to maintain established social-distancing recommendations. Privately-owned open spaces such as the local 200 acre golf course fall within the definition of appropriate recreational use, so long as the buildings and pro shops remain closed.
Mayor Wedegartner has been working closely with city leadership on plans for reopening the city and has begun planning for the limited re-opening of certain municipal buildings during the week of May 18th. As this plan develops, more information will be provided. According to Mayor Wedegartner, “This work has already begun. Among the many other safety protocols we are beginning to put in place are new furniture and space configurations, new capacity limits based on social distancing, and installation of Plexiglass barriers at public counters. The DPW is beginning its spring work in a careful way, using social distancing for grounds workers and road crews.”
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