Ordinance 2020-08: Emergency Measures In Response To Covid-19

ORDINANCE NO. 2020-08

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING EMERGENCY MEASURES IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new respiratory disease that is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 and can result in serious illness or death; and

 

WHEREAS, COVID-19 is spread through people who are in close contact with one another and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes; and

 

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) believes the spread of the disease might be possible before people show symptoms and has recommended limitations on meetings of groups; and

 

WHEREAS, the CDC notes that COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in a process known as community spread (people have been infected with the virus without knowing where they became infected); and

 

WHEREAS, older adults and people with chronic medical conditions or who are immunocompromised are at higher risk of getting seriously ill; and

 

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared a State of Emergency in Ohio (Executive Order 2020-0ID); and

 

WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recommended large, indoor gatherings be cancelled or postponed due to the potential for the coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure; and

 

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic; and

 

WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, Ohio Director of Health, Dr. Amy Acton, ordered that mass gatherings of 100 people or more be cancelled or postponed due to the potential for the coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure; and

 

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office issued a letter indicating that based on the Ohio Department of Health’s Order prohibiting mass gatherings while encouraging people to stay at home and avoid unnecessary contact with each other, Village Council may “appear via teleconference or telephone” if all other requirements of the Open Meetings Act are met; and

 

WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, Dr. Amy Acton ordered that mass gatherings of 50 people or more be cancelled or postponed due to the potential for the coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure; and

 

WHEREAS, on March 22, 2020, Dr. Amy Acton issued a stay at home order and ordered the reduction of mass gatherings of 10 people or more be cancelled or postponed due to the potential for the coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure effective at 11:59 p.m. EST on March 23, 2020; and

 

WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, the Ohio legislature passed House Bill 197, which enacted numerous provisions to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic; and

 

WHEREAS, on March 27, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 197, which, among other things, extends the income tax deadline to July 15, 2020, and allows local governments to hold public meetings remotely, including conducting such meetings via teleconference, videoconference, or other electronic means; and

 

WHEREAS, on April 2, 2020, Dr. Amy Acton signed and updated the stay at home order and extended it to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 1, 2020; and

 

WHEREAS, on April 8, 2020, the income tax collection agency for the Village of Antwerp, Ohio, provided projections for the income tax delays and losses that may be experienced by the Village as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and

 

WHEREAS, on April 10, 2020, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation approved to send up to $1.6 billion to Ohio employers to ease the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ohio’s economy and businesses, which includes approximately $200 million to go to local government taxing districts; and

 

WHEREAS, on April 16, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine announced that beginning May 1, 2020, the State of Ohio will begin a phased-in process for re-opening the economy in the State of Ohio; and

 

WHEREAS, the Paulding County Board of Health confirmed the existence of the first COVID-19 case within Paulding County, Ohio on April 5, 2020, and as of April 24, 2020, there are eight (8) confirmed COVID-19 cases within Paulding County, Ohio; and

 

WHEREAS, as of April 24, 2020, Ohio reports 15,169 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in the State of Ohio with 3,053 hospitalizations, including 920 ICU admissions, and 690 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths; and

 

WHEREAS, on April 30, 2020, Dr. Amy Acton signed and updated the stay at home order and extended it to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 29, 2020, with certain exceptions; and

 

WHEREAS, based on the information presented so far, the Council of the Village of Antwerp, Ohio, has determined that steps should be taken to prepare for an emergency situation:

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP, STATE OF OHIO:

 

SECTION 1.  The Village Council may meet remotely provided the following conditions are met:

 

1.                    Identity verification is in place to ensure that the person participating is the Village council member;

2.                    The method of meeting is able to document any votes cast by individual members;

3.                    If a member is cut off from the meeting, Council will cease all discussions and deliberations while an attempt is made to reconnect the member. If the member remains unavailable and they are not needed for a quorum, the meeting may continue; and

4.                    The public has access to the remote meeting and may hear the discussions and deliberations.

 

SECTION 2.  The Mayor is hereby granted authority to declare A State of Emergency within the Village of Antwerp should it become necessary in order to continue to provide Village services or take action to comply with an order from the State of Ohio.

 

SECTION 3.  The appropriate officials and employees of the Village of Antwerp are authorized to prepare and submit any and all application, qualification, consideration, and reimbursement available to the Village of Antwerp, its employees, citizens and businesses for any and all grants, funding, loans, discounts or any other assistance or benefits related to the COVID-19 pandemic from any federal, state, or local government or from any private company, organization or entity offering such benefits.

 

SECTION 4.  This Council finds and determines that all formal actions of this Council and any of its committees concerning and relating to the passage of this Ordinance were taken in an open meeting of this Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and any of its committees that resulted in those formal actions were in meetings open to the public, all in compliance with the law including Section 121.22 of the Revised Code.

 

SECTION 5.  This Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary to provide for the public peace, safety, health, and welfare of the Village by taking immediate steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the government of the Village is able to function in times of emergency.

 

 

Passed this _____ day of May, 2020.

 

_________________________

Ray Delong, Mayor

Village of Antwerp

Attest:

 

____________________________

Aimee Lichty, Fiscal Officer