(5/15) The Carroll Valley Borough Council discussed at their May meeting the possibility of resuming committee and commission meetings that had been suspended as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a prelude to discussing resuming committee and commission meetings, council President Richard Mathews stated, "The state is supposed to open-up on the last weekend of this month (May), so I’m hoping – if everybody is in agreement – that we can start having our committees all start to meet."
Borough Manager David Hazlett said, "If you (the council) feel that we’re ready to do that, it will probably be a similar arrangement to this (current council meeting methods) for now, until everything is lifted." At the present time, the council meetings are held in a hybrid manner – meaning meetings can be attended in-person with COVID protocols in-place, or by remote-streaming.
Councilwoman Jessica Kraft said, "I know everyone’s comfort level is a little bit different when it comes to meeting, especially in certain close spaces. I know that not everybody is not on-board for getting back together just yet," adding that she wished attending the meetings in-person would resume.
Mathews said, for example, the planning commission should plan to be meeting in June. However, Hazlett pointed out that it is required of some boards that they must have a quorum (majority of members) present, physically.
The town manager did state that the borough does have the capabilities to hold hybrid meetings. "You (committee meetings) couldn’t all do it (attend remotely), but if there’s a couple of people (committee members) who are still comfortable, we might be able to make some sort of electronic arrangements for their participation as well."
The consensus of the council was to allow the town manager to determine what the process would be for holding the hybrid meetings, and if there were enough members of committees and commissions to attend in-person to warrant further consideration.
Regarding the re-opening of events, Councilwoman Kraft stated that Movies in the Park is resuming in-partnership with the Fairfield Area School District (FASD) Parent Teacher Organization, and that plans are being made to hold community yard sales, as well as to proceed with planning the annual Fourth of July celebration at the Carroll Commons Park.
Regarding the Fourth of July, Kraft said, "We are going to move forward with the July Fourth event," that a band – The Reagan Years (a 1980s music-tribute band) - has been secured, as well as a local FASD senior to sing the National Anthem, and there will be a few amusements, such as bounce house-style amusements.
Hazlett said he is working with Liberty Mountain to "hopefully" have fireworks launched from Liberty Mountain during the July Fourth event.
Attendees must comply with any applicable COVID protocols in-effect at the time of any event.
