Thursday, April 2, 2020
www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 22, Number 5
Town budget hearing, referendum cancelled ernor’s Executive Order expressly requires municipalities to adopt budgets for Fiscal Year 2020/2021 without holding votes required by charter and without complying with any in-person bud-
get adoption requirements. This is to protect our citizens by eliminating large gatherings of people/violation of social distancing requirements and potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
Under the Governor’s Executive Orders 7B(1) and 7I, in adopting the budget, the “budget-making authority” “shall thereby take all reasonable steps to publicize the draft municipal budget”
Central Connecticut responds to COVID-19 By Everett Bishop The Citizen
Across the state, communities are responding to coronavirus in a variety of ways in an effort to keep residents safe while maintaining normalcy.
its first case of coronavirus on Thursday, March 26 has been closely coordinating with its health department to monitor the virus in town.
In response to the encroaching threat, North Haven, Durham, Middlefield, Plainville and Berlin have all closed town offices and public buildings.
"We knew it was only a matter of time before there was a confirmed case in Durham, given that community spread has already been established in our region," said First Selectman Laura Francis. "We must assume that there are other cases already in our community at this time, and that the number will increase. If someone is sick with a fever and has a cough, you need to assume they have COVID-19. I strongly urge all Durham residents to heed instructions by public health officials to 'flatten the curve' and slow the spread of the disease by practicing social distancing."
Durham, which confirmed
In order to smooth the tran-
As of Monday afternoon, Connecticut had a total of 2,571 confirmed cases of the virus. Of those, 11 were in Berlin. Nearby, seven cases were confirmed in Plainville, one was confirmed in Durham, and there was one in Middlefield and two in North Haven.
and “receive public comment thereon, including but not limited to publishing draft budgets on the website and providing an email address or other means for the public to submit timely comments on the budget.” Information on the budgets are available on the town’s website, town.berlin.ct.us. The Board of Finance was to meet on Tuesday, March 31. The actions scheduled for this meeting included sending the Board of Education and General Government budgets to the Town Council for action by the Council. The proposed Board of Finance and General Government budgets for FY 2021 are:
A researcher at Protein Sciences in Meriden moves a vial in a lab on Thursday, March 12. The biotech company is currently researching a vaccine for COVID-19. AP Photo/Jessica Hill
sition into self-isolation, the Durham recreation department has been hosting programs and activities over the video communication service Zoom for residents to enjoy.
people to maintain social distancing.
Durham also continues to host a weekly farmers market with signs reminding
“The health district has put
In the neighboring town of Middlefield, First Selectman Edward Bailey is not taking the situation lightly.
See Responds, A8
Overall: $91,475,922 – Increase of 1.4 percent from the FY20 budget. Board of Education: $46,416,504 - Increase of 3.2 percent from the FY20 budget. General Government: $45,059,418 – Decrease of 0.3 percent from the FY20 budget. There is no mill rate increase. See Cancelled, A15
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In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 7I, the Town of Berlin’s Annual Budget Hearing (scheduled for March 31) and Referendum(s) for April 28 and May 26 were cancelled. The Gov-