Town Of Avon: COVID-19: Town Of Avon Operations Update (06/18/21)

Press release from the Town of Avon:

June 18, 2021 - 2:28pm

COVID-19: Town of Avon Operations Update (6/18/2021)

Please note that these measures may be modified as new information becomes available.

The following update provides the current status on a number of Town operations as of June 18, 2021. New information is indicated in red font.

Effective June 21st, the Town of Avon has implemented a NEW Protective Face Covering Policy, as follows:

• In accordance with Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 12, fully vaccinated employees and members of the public will not be required to wear a protective face covering while inside Town facilities, except as noted below. A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving the final recommended dose of a vaccine approved by the FDA for use against COVID-19.
• Unvaccinated employees and members of the public will continue to be required to wear a protective face covering while inside Town facilities.
• This policy does not apply to the following Town operations:
  • Avon Senior Center. Masks will continue to be required for staff and the public at all times. Please call the Senior Center at (860) 675-4355 with questions.
  • Department of Recreation & Parks. In certain circumstances, mostly while indoors, some seasonal staff and younger campers will be required to wear protective face coverings in accordance with guidance issued by the CT Department of Public Health relative to summer camp and swimming pool operations. Such guidance has been provided to affected individuals. Please contact Recreation at (860) 409-4332 with questions about specific programs.
  • Avon Free Public Library. The Library will continue to require all staff and patrons to wear protective face coverings while in the public areas of the Children’s Department (2nd Floor). Fully vaccinated staff and patrons will not be required to wear masks on the first floor of the building, or in the private offices and meeting rooms on the second floor. At the discretion of the Library Director, masks may be required for staff and patrons participating in certain in-person programs. Please contact the Library at (860) 673-9712 with questions. 

• Additionally, the Town may require fully vaccinated employees and members of the public to wear protective face coverings at specific public events, i.e. events where large crowds are expected and/or unvaccinated people are likely to be in attendance.

Town Offices & Department of Public Works:

Town Offices and the Department of Public Works are open to the public for in-person business. Staff continue to be available via phone and email and we continue to encourage the public to take advantage of our remote service options whenever possible. Many functions can be performed remotely, both quickly and easily, without coming to the office. Please contact the specific department with questions about remote services. A list of department phone numbers is available HERE. Not sure which department to contact? Call (860) 409-4300 and we will direct your request accordingly.

Please keep the following in mind before your visit to Town Offices or the Department of Public Works:

• Please follow the Town’s protective face covering policy.
• Please do not come to Town facilities if you are sick.
• Continue to social distance whenever possible.
• Be aware that the public may continue to experience capacity limits at service counters or waiting areas, particularly for those services housed in Building #2 (Collector of Revenue and Town Clerk) where only one taxpayer/customer per department will be permitted in the building at one time. You may be asked to wait in the hallway or outside of the building, regardless of weather conditions. Staff will do their best to limit any inconvenience to the public, but please plan your visit accordingly, or elect to complete your business remotely.
• Whenever possible, please fill out appropriate forms ahead of time and have your payment method ready, if required. Most forms, applications, etc. are available for download on the Town’s website.

Please note that the Town Clerk’s Office is currently open for all in-person services except Land Recordings, which must be completed via mail, and Title Searches, which must be completed online. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Public Meetings & Town Hall Room Use:

Public meetings will continue to be held remotely until further notice.

The Town Manager’s Office is now taking reservations for the use of the Selectmen’s Chamber and the Avon Room by outside groups for meetings. Please call (860) 409-4300 to schedule. Users will be required to follow the Town’s protective face covering policy.

Avon Free Public Library:

All floors of the Library are currently open for browsing, Mondays through Thursdays 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays in June 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Saturdays in July and August, the Library will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (regular summer hours).

The Library will continue to require all staff and patrons to wear protective face coverings while in the public areas of the Children’s Department (2nd Floor). Fully vaccinated staff and patrons will not be required to wear masks on the first floor of the building, or in the private offices and meeting rooms on the second floor. At the discretion of the Library Director, masks may be required for staff and patrons participating in certain in-person programs.

Computer access and curbside pickup of library materials is also available. Call (860) 673-9712 to schedule a 60 minute computer session or curbside pickup appointment. Limited seating is available and meeting rooms and study rooms remain closed. Visit www.avonctlibrary.info to see the library’s collection of downloadable content and schedule of virtual programs.

Police Department:

The Avon Police Department has substantially returned to standard service delivery procedures. The following service protocols will be in place.

• For emergency calls, officers will dispatched to the location immediately.
• For non-emergency calls, officers will be dispatched to the location in a timely manner unless the caller requests to speak with an officer by phone instead. In those cases where a complaint is deemed appropriate to be taken over the phone, callers will be asked to provide their name and phone number to the dispatcher. The caller can expect an officer to call them back shortly to discuss the issue and determine if a police response is necessary.*
• If a police response is needed an officer will respond to their residence or business.
• Anyone entering the Police Department facility will be required to follow the Town’s protective face covering policy.
• Fingerprinting services are available by appointment only, Tuesdays, 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon and Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Please call the Detective Unit at (860) 409-4230 to schedule an appointment.  Please review the COVID-19 Fingerprinting Protocols.

The Avon Police Department ensures that all officers are updated on the latest CDC guidelines related to interacting with the public. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. The routine number for the Avon Police Department is (860) 409-4200.

*All phone calls will be made from an Avon Police Department landline so the caller ID identifies the Avon Police Department is calling. If you are unsure if you are speaking with an Avon Police Officer, hang up and call our routine phone number listed above.

Senior Center & Dial-A-Ride:

The Senior Center will begin its “cautious” reopening on June 15, 2021. While we are excited to welcome folks back to the building, please note that we have implemented a number of safety measures to ensure the health of our seniors and our staff. As an example, masks will be required for staff and participants at all times. Further details regarding these safety measures and the Avon Senior Center reopening can be found on the Senior Center webpage HERE. Please call the Senior Center at (860) 675-4355 with questions. We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Dial-A Ride is providing rides to all pre-pandemic destinations with no limits on number of passengers. Please contact DAR at 860-693-6876, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., for further information and to schedule your rides.

Recreation Programs and Facilities:

The Recreation & Parks Department is accepting Applications for Use of Public Places for events at the Countryside Park Building, Pavilions and other park facilities.

Public parks and open space recreation are open.

We ask that ALL of our park patrons and program participants abide by all applicable State and CDC guidelines.

In certain circumstances, mostly while indoors, some seasonal staff and younger campers will be required to wear protective face coverings in accordance with guidance issued by the CT Department of Public Health relative to summer camp and swimming pool operations. Such guidance has been provided directly to affected employees and parents of campers. Please contact the Department of Recreation & Parks at (860) 409-4332 with questions.

Probate Court:

The Simsbury Regional Probate Court serves the residents of Avon, Canton, Simsbury and Granby, and is situated in the Simsbury Town Hall.  The Simsbury Town Hall and the Probate Court have returned to normal operating hours: Monday from 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday - Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Please call the Probate Court at (860) 658-3277 for further information.

We will continue to provide updates as necessary.  Thank you again for your patience and understanding as we continue to move forward during this challenging time.

This press release was produced by the Town of Avon. The views expressed here are the author’s own.