BOROUGH OF BERGENFIELD
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
TO ALL RESIDENTS AND PERSONS WITHIN THE BOROUGH OF BERGENFIELD, NEW JERSEY, AND TO ALL DEPARTMENTS OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE BOROUGH OF BERGENFIELD:
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization designated the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Health and Human Services Secretary declared a public health emergency for the entire United States to aid the nation's healthcare community in responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19); and
WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19 within New Jersey constitutes an imminent public health hazard that threatens and presently endangers the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of one or more municipalities or counties of the State; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the Governor of the State of New Jersey declared the concurrent invocation of both a State of Emergency pursuant to N.J.S.A. App.A.:9-33 et seq. and a Public Health Emergency as contemplated by N.J.S.A. 26:13-1 et seq., which invoked the authority and powers contemplated by N.J.S.A. 26:13-3, the Emergency Health Powers Act, and remains in effect; and
WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, in response to the health emergency posed by COVID-19, the Bergen County Executive issued Executive Order No. 2020-01, which declared a State of Emergency in Bergen County and established mandates to combat COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the Bergen County Executive issued Supplemental Executive Order No. 2020-01A, which directed further action to be taken to combat COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States, by the authority of sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) and consistent with section 1135 of the Social Security Act (SSA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5), declared and proclaimed that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency; and
WHEREAS, the Borough is working with federal, state, and local officials and authorities on a daily basis on prevention and mitigation activities that include providing critical information to the public about COVID-19 to provide facts and avoid unnecessary fear, training emergency responders and health professionals about the disease and investigating suspected, presumptive and confirmed cases; and
WHEREAS, the Borough has created a Task Force to make recommendations to combat the virus, and;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the powers vested in me by chapter 251 of the Laws of 1942, as amended and supplemented, N.J.S.A. App. A:9-30 et. seq.; N.J.S.A. 40:48-1(6); N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1 et. seq., whichever law or laws apply, a local emergency disaster is declared to exist within the boundaries of the Borough of Bergenfield; and
WHEREAS, the aforesaid laws authorize the promulgation of such orders, rules and regulations, as are necessary to meet the various problems which have or may be presented by such an emergency; and
WHEREAS, by reason of the conditions which presently exist in all areas of the Borough of Bergenfield which may affect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and persons within the Borough of Bergenfield; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined that these areas of the Borough of Bergenfield should then be declared disaster areas and further that certain measures must be taken in order to insure that the authorities will be unhampered in their efforts to maintain law and order as well as an orderly flow of traffic and further to protect the persons and property of the residents affected by the conditions; and
WHEREAS, the following areas are designated disaster areas:
The entire Borough of Bergenfield
NOW, THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AFORESAID LAWS, effective immediately, and until further notice, I do hereby promulgate and declare a State of Emergency within the Borough of Bergenfield, County of Bergen, and State of New Jersey, and do hereby order and direct that:
1. Borough of Bergenfield and Borough offices will be closed to the public (with staff working) effective beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 until further notice, other than by appointment. All citizens are encouraged to contact Borough offices by e-mail or telephone if they have any questions.
2. All public and Board of Education recreational fields, all school grounds, basketball courts, and playgrounds within the Borough of Bergenfield are closed, as well as nursery schools and day care centers, and all organized sports activities within all municipal and Board of Education parks/fields, and recreational activities run by the Borough of Bergenfield or Board of Education are hereby postponed until further notice.
3. All public meetings of non-essential municipal boards and committees are suspended. The Borough Mayor and Council will continue to meet but will discourage in-person attendance by members of the public, while making available means of remote, telephone and computer access by the public for public comment.
4. All places of gathering shall limit attendance at any event or gathering to 100 or fewer persons, in order to comply with CDC guidelines for “social distancing.”
5. All residents are encouraged to stay within their own properties, avoid large groups and maintain “social distancing” in accordance with CDC guidance.
6. All workplaces within the Borough are strongly encouraged to implement and observe CDC workplace social distancing measures, such as replacing in-person meetings with teleworking, modifying, postponing or canceling mass gatherings.
7. All places of gathering hosting 25 or more persons are strongly urged to use their best efforts to record the name, address, phone or other appropriate contact information of all employees, patrons, visitors, vendors or any other persons within their facilities in order to aid health officials in the event contact tracing activities should become necessary in connection with their operations.
8. All restaurants and bars are urged to encourage take-out and curbside delivery in lieu of in-restaurant dining, and to reduce seating capacity to increase space between groups of patrons to assist in “social distancing” in accordance with CDC guidelines, by maintaining a distance of 6 feet between groups of diners and patrons.
Signed:
Ryan Shell, Emergency Management Coordinator