Coronavirus At Public Works, Transfer Station: Updated

GUILFORD, CT —A town transfer station worker has tested positive for the coronavirus. As there are just a handful of employees, and the health department must conduct contact tracing to determine if anyone else has been exposed, and in an effort to keep the public safe, the transfer station was closed Thursday, First Selectman Matt Hoey told Patch. But barring weather issues is slated to reopen Friday.

Meanwhile, a public works staff member also tested positive this week and Hoey said that has impacted staff there as some employees have been deemed close contacts, all of which means the town has been left “shorthanded for storm preparedness.” But Hoey said that with cooperation from the town parks and rec department and the fire department, staff who have CDL licenses are pitching in to clear roads.

“Out of an abundance of caution to protect the public and staff, and with a shortage of manpower and on the advice of the health director we closed the transfer station this morning until we determine the extent of the exposure,” Hoey said in a call with Patch.

As to the staff shortage at DPW, Hoey said the “good news” is that others from the town are helping to keep roadways safe and open. He said parks and rec has its own maintenance staff who already clear lots and roadways into town parks and recreation sites and buildings. Now, they’ll be helping on the roads. And, he said that likewise, the Guilford Fire Department does plowing for emergency services and those firefighters with commercial driver licenses are also getting in plow trucks for the town.

“That’s not unusual,” Hoey said of the cooperation between separate departments. “That’s the culture here in Guilford. And streets must get plowed. ”

But he lamented that “essential town workers” were not among those first to be vaccinated.

“It is unfortunate that essential workers such as public works, parks and rec maintenance, and waste transfer station employees were not considered to be among those vaccinated in first wave of along with first responders," he said.

Late Thursday, Hoey's office emailed Patch to say that, "barring any further weather issues," the Waste Transfer Station will reopen at 7 a.m. Friday.