State Capitol Update for the Week of October 19

October 22, 2020

It’s Purple Thursday today, and I’m wearing purple to celebrate survivors of domestic violence and highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  During these particularly stressful times, victims need to know that we stand squarely by them and are ready to help, and that local organizations like Women’s Support Services in Sharon and the Susan B Anthony Project in Torrington are ready to help you wherever you are in the process of dealing with abuse. 
 
Both Women’s Support Services and Susan B Anthony Project will hold their traditional vigils this month, though both will be held online this year:

  • On Wednesday, October 28th at 6 pm SBAP will hold its vigil via their Facebook page;
  • On Thursday, October 29th at 6 pm, WSS will hold its vigil via their website

And, I encourage everyone to please make a plan to vote if you haven’t already done that.  The election on November 3 is now twelve days away, and voting by absentee ballot has been underway for more than two weeks. 

  • Check to make sure you’re registered here.
  • If you’re not registered, you can register here. You can also register in person by calendar by calling your town’s Registrar of Voters. Remember that CT's Voter Registration Deadline is next Tuesday, October 27.  If you miss that deadline, you can register on election day, but it will be more time consuming, so be prepared. 
  • If you’d like to vote by absentee ballot, but haven’t received one, please reach out to your Town Clerk.  And follow the instructions carefully to make sure your ballot is counted. You can place your completed ballot (nestled in the two envelopes provided) in the drop box at your town hall, or in the mail.  Ballots must be received by November 3 to be counted.
  • If you’re planning to vote in person:
    • Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. 
    • Anyone in line to vote by 8 p.m. will be permitted to vote.
    • Please wear a mask. Social distancing will be maintained. Polling locations will be kept clean and secure. 
  • Please note that some polling locations in the district have changed this year:

Here’s a list of today’s topics:

  • Governor Lamont signed Executive Order No. 9H, re remote participation in agency meetings and revisions to eviction moratorium
  • Update on recent positive COVID-19 tests in the 64th District
  • Connecticut CARES Small Business Grant Program announced
  • Grant Program to support CT’s arts community
  • Healthy tax receipts reduce budget deficit
  • Tell your “Storm Story”: Public Utilities Regulatory Authority public comment hearings on storm response ongoing
  • New program to tackle mental and behavioral health impact of pandemic
  • Weekly update to the regional travel advisory: Arizona and Maryland meet metrics to qualify, no areas removed
  • Halloween
  • A couple of good causes to consider supporting: Operation Fuel & Salisbury Rotary

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”
 
NOTE: this week, CT launched a color-coded, weekly COVID-19 alert map. The map includes every city and town in the state, identifying the average daily case rate per 100,000 population over the last two weeks. The new weekly alert level is also accompanied by municipal-level guidance on recommended actions for individual residents, institutions such as schools, houses of worship, community organizations, municipal leaders, and local health directors.
 
The map will be updated every week and is available in the Data Tracker on the state’s coronavirus website (ct.gov/coronavirus).
 
Governor Lamont signed Executive Order No. 9H enacting the following provisions:

  • Remote participation in agency and municipal meetings: Permits state agencies and municipal boards, commissions, councils, and local legislative bodies to conduct business using “hybrid meetings,” wherein members of the public may attend in-person and others attend and participate remotely using video technology, and allows members of such bodies to attend remotely. This order adds options for conducting municipal meetings, but does not repeal any previous executive orders on municipal meetings, such as Executive Order Nos. 7B and 7I.
  • Technical revisions to extension of eviction moratorium: Makes technical revisions to Executive Order No. 9E, Section 1, which extended the moratorium on residential evictions through January 1, 2021.

Update on recent positive COVID-19 tests in the 64th District
 
Since my last newsletter, there have been updates from Sharon Hospital, Geer Village and the Hotchkiss School:
 
Today, Sharon Hospital reported to me that a few staff members have tested positive. That number is in the "single digits" and the hospital is actively doing contact tracing with the Department of Public Health in order to determine the source of the infections. None are reported to be seriously ill, and all are quarantining. The hospital has had only had one COVID-positive patient recently, who was admitted within the last week for surgery and tested positive while there.
 
Sharon Hospital has also changed its entry points, in order to have a safer flow of people into and out of the hospital. They have opened the front entrance for patients; the side entrance will be used for emergencies and employees.
 
As of yesterday afternoon, Geer Village reported a total of 26 positive COVID-19 test results: 7 staff, and 19 residents. The increase in resident cases are all contained on the same housing unit, Gardenside. Geer reports that they continue to test and monitor the health of all residents and staff, and that a strict policy of isolation, use of PPE and sanitizing is being followed throughout the building.
 
They have also completed testing of all nursing home residents with no positive results. Staff are not being shared between facilities.
 
If you have any questions regarding The Lodge residents, please contact Executive Director Sherry Schoonmaker at (860) 824-2639 or sschoonmaker@geercares.org
For questions regarding Geer Nursing residents, please contact Director of Nursing Cady Bloodgood at (860) 824­3825 or cbloodgood@geercares.org or Infection Preventionist Melissa Foley at (860) 824-3861 or coronavirusquestions@geercares.org
Earlier this week, the Hotchkiss School received results back on a testing screen of the entire campus, which resulted in no new positive test results.  Going forward, they will test all students and all student-facing adults on campus on a weekly basis.
 
It's reassuring to see serious and thoughtful protocols kick in at each of these institutions to contact trace and stop the spread of the virus, and to communicate in a timely and clear way with the community. This took a lot of hard work, and it is especially important as we enter a new phase of this pandemic.
 
In every single conversation, we are reminded of the critical importance of the "3 Ws" in fighting this pandemic: Wash your hands frequently, Wear a mask, and Watch your social distance. 
 
Connecticut CARES Small Business Grant Program announced
 
Governor Lamont announced that he is creating the Connecticut CARES Small Business Grant Program to assist small businesses and nonprofits that have been impacted by the economic downturn caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide businesses and nonprofits in Connecticut that have fewer than twenty employees or a 2019 payroll of less than $1.5 million with a one-time grant of $5,000.
 
To fund the program, the governor is committing $50 million from the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund, which utilizes federal CARES Act funding. The program will be administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). The grants can be used for payroll, rent, utilities, inventory, purchase of machinery or equipment, or costs associated with compliance of the ongoing Reopen Connecticut Business Sector Rules.
 
The governor is directing DECD to commit half of the funds to small businesses and nonprofits that are located in towns and cities designated as distressed municipalities.
 
DECD estimates it will begin accepting online applications the week of November 9, and all of the funds are anticipated to be disbursed by December 30. Information on eligibility requirements, upcoming webinars, and other aspects of the program will be published on the state’s business portal at business.ct.gov.
 
 
Grant Program to support CT’s arts community
 
Governor Lamont announced that the State of Connecticut will be providing up to $9 million in grants to certain nonprofit arts organizations in the state to help them recover more quickly from the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Utilizing federal CARES Act funding from the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Office of the Arts will administer the COVID Relief Fund for the Arts program with the goal of supporting:

  • Arts nonprofits for whom grants will make a difference in terms of survival or rehiring; and
  • Arts nonprofits that have had to curtail operations for a period of time due to the pandemic and which have had limited ability to reopen due to pandemic restrictions and/or have had to pivot their service delivery due to pandemic restrictions.

Qualifying organizations will receive a base grant of $5,000. For organizations that have raised funds between March 10 and November 1, 2020, the program will offer a supplemental match of 50 percent of contributed income during that period. The maximum award for any organization is $750,000.
 
Arts organizations eligible for funding include:

  • Performing Arts Centers: Multi-purpose facilities for arts programming, including theaters that present live performances and/or live classes;
  • Performing Groups: Groups of artists who perform works of art (e.g., an orchestra, theater, or dance group). To qualify, the organization must either own the venue in which it performs and/or spend more than 20 percent of its annual operating budget on rental of space used to perform; and
  • Schools of the Arts: Organizations that have arts education as its primary educational mission (e.g. community art schools).

The Connecticut Office of the Arts will be accepting applications between October 23 and November 3, and all contracts must be executed by December 30. Additional information on eligibility requirements and the application process can be found on DECD’s website.
  
Healthy tax receipts reduce budget deficit
 
This week we got a bit of good fiscal news, as surging tax receipts eliminated approximately 40% of the state’s projected deficit, significantly improving the state’s fiscal outlook.  There were several reasons for this, including the health of the US stock market, and pent-up demand for goods and services caused by pandemic-related closures that is now catching up.  For full details, see Keith Phaneuf’s article in the CT Mirror.
 
Tell your “Storm Story”: Public Utilities Regulatory Authority public comment hearings on storm response ongoing
 
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is holding public hearings this week on the performance of Eversource Energy and United Illuminating during Tropical Storm Isaias. And they need to hear your experience. Public comments will become part of the record and will be reviewed by PURA as part of the evidence in this proceeding. While PURA cannot respond directly to public comments, it can incorporate them in its decision-making process.
 
Hearings scheduled for the remainder of the week include:

  • Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 9.00 a.m. 
  • Friday, October 23, 2020 at 9.00 a.m. 

Registration information may be accessed by the public on PURA’s Calendar of Events. Customers who need assistance registering or require additional information should contact the Office of Consumer Counsel by telephone at 860-827-2900 or e-mail at occ.info@ct.gov
 
New program to tackle mental and behavioral health impact of pandemic
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has left a wide range of negative impacts on our communities, including unemployment, isolation from family, increased substance abuse disorders, increased prevalence of mental health disorders, and a reduction of services available for our homeless population.  Many seniors have also lost access to services they depend on.  All of these have had a major impact on mental and behavioral health.
 
In an effort to support those in need of mental and behavioral health services as a result of the pandemic, McCall Center for Behavioral Health in Torrington, CT is launching COACH, or COVID-19 Assistance for Community Health. This is a new program that was funded with federal resources and administered through the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).
 
The COACH providers are outreach based, delivering services in the community. They are also local to the communities they are working in, trauma informed, culturally aware, and knowledgeable in various areas of social services such as employment services, educational opportunities, community supports, and mental health services. This program is grant funded, so it is free to the participants and completely anonymous. Their goal is to reach every corner of our community to help provide support and connection to navigate much needed resources at this time.
 
For more information, reach out to Manny.Barreto@mccallcenterct.org, or visit the McCall Center for Behavioral Health website.
 
Weekly update to the regional travel advisory: Arizona and Maryland meet metrics to qualify, no areas removed
 
The regional travel advisory between Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York that directs incoming travelers from states with a significant community spread of COVID-19 to self-quarantine for a 14-day period was updated this week: Arizona and Maryland have been added to the list of impacted locations that meet the metrics to qualify, and no states or territories were removed from the list this week.
 
Anyone arriving to Connecticut from any of the impacted locations is required to fill out a travel health form upon their arrival. The form can be filled out online at ct.gov/travelform.
 
The list of impacted locations is updated once per week every Tuesday. As of today, the full list of impacted locations under the travel advisory includes:
 
1.                   Alabama
2.                   Alaska
3.                   Arizona
4.                   Arkansas
5.                   Colorado
6.                   Delaware
7.                   Florida
8.                   Georgia
9.                   Guam
10.               Idaho
11.               Illinois
12.               Indiana
13.               Iowa
14.               Kansas
15.               Kentucky
16.               Louisiana
17.               Maryland
18.               Michigan
19.               Minnesota
20.               Mississippi
21.               Missouri
22.               Montana
23.               Nebraska
24.               Nevada
25.               New Mexico
26.               North Carolina
27.               North Dakota
28.               Ohio
29.               Oklahoma
30.               Puerto Rico
31.               Rhode Island
32.               South Carolina
33.               South Dakota
34.               Tennessee
35.               Texas
36.               Utah
37.               Virginia
38.               West Virginia
39.               Wisconsin
40.               Wyoming
 
For the most up-to-date information on the regional travel advisory, including an extensive list of frequently asked questions, visit ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel
 
Halloween Tips this year
 
I’ve been speaking with a lot of parents throughout the district who are thinking about preparations for Halloween, and how to have some safely scary fun, I thought I’d pass along some safety tips for this year, some from local parents, and all in accordance with the state’s Public Health Department and the federal CDC. 

  • Indoor parties/gatherings should not exceed the 25 people capacity
  • Outdoor gatherings should not exceed the 150 people capacity
  •  If trick or treating, masks must be worn. Costume masks are NOT to be a substitute for cloth masks.
  • Do not crowd one another when receiving candy

Connecticut's recommendations for Halloween festivities 2020:

  • DPH recommends avoiding this year: indoor haunted houses “where people may be crowded together and screaming,” hayrides with people from different households, and trick-or-treating where candy is handed out door-to-door or from car trunks. Instead, the agency and federal Centers for Disease Control say families should stick to household festivities like a family movie night or dressing up the front lawn with decorations.
  • The federal agency also advises against wearing a rubber costume mask over a protective cloth mask “because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.”
  • For people with preexisting conditions or who don’t feel comfortable with others coming to their doors, “you can probably skip this holiday and keep the door closed,” the governor said.

And some suggestions from local parents:

  • Keep hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes with you when trick or treating
  • Do not eat candy immediately; wipe down candy wrapper when you get home before opening
  • Do not put hand in candy buckets; let the home-owner hand it to you or throw it or whatever creative way they choose to give it out
  • Do not pick up candy off the ground
  • If you enjoy the Halloween traditions, get creative and do some activities at home with in-home family members: make homemade pizza, watch scary movies, pop some popcorn, play games, dress up, hide candy throughout the home or around the home and have the children (that live there) find them.

For more information and suggestions click here.
 
A couple of good causes to consider supporting: Operation Fuel & Salisbury Rotary
 
Operation Fuel
 
Operation Fuel provides emergency energy and utility assistance to households in Connecticut that are facing financial crisis.  As the economic fallout of COVID continues, and with winter on the way, they will need support to continue their work.  If you can, please consider making a donation.
 
Salisbury Rotary
 
Salisbury Rotary, which serves the towns of Canaan, Cornwall, Falls Village, Lakeville, Salisbury and Sharon, supports many local organizations and projects, including food banks, mask donations, and scholarships, all part of its mission to improve the lives of citizens in our communities and communities around the world.  Like a lot of local nonprofits, fundraising events have been disrupted this year, so their main fundraising effort is a raffle.  Tickets are $10 (they hope to sell 2,500), and the winner takes home a $10,000 prize in a drawing on November 17.  For more information, visit their website.
 
Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.
 

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Relay services can be accessed by calling 7-1-1. Anyone who is out-of-state or using Relay can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 toll free by dialing 1-800-203-1234. The hotline is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to contact their medical provider.