Small municipalities are adapting to ' new normal'

Feb. 27—In small towns, town leaders must oversee multiple aspects of government, challenging enough without adding the burden of a response to a pandemic.

But local officials swiftly adapted to what became known as " the new normal" post- March 2020 and even found beneficial solutions that may stay even when the public health crisis eases.

Caseloads may not have been as high as in bigger municipalities, but the impact has still changed how small- town eastern Connecticut operates.

The towns of Andover, Chaplin, Hampton, Hebron and Scotland adapted differently to the new challenges, but the leaders of each had a common goal.

That goal was to find new ways to provide essential services to residents after first abruptly closing public buildings last March.

Leaders pivoted to remote methods, with some cautiously reopening and resuming " old- normal" practices over the summer, only to temporarily shut down again as confirmed cases surged again after Thanksgiving.

Others remained remote, but offered appointments for certain procedures that could only be handled in- person.

Transfer stations instituted social- distancing requirements; libraries offered curbside services. Local schools that sent all students home last spring were able to reopen this fall, but instituted distance- learning options for those who chose to remain home and for when rising infections mandated they temporarily halt in- person instruction at times.

Hebron

" It's a lot of uncharted waters, keeping employees and the public safe," said Hebron Town Manager Andrew Tierney. " It's pretty much consumed us. We extended tax payment periods, changed deadlines, waived fees ... we're dealing with things on a day- by- day basis."

Town buildings reopened in July, then closed again in November.

Tierney said there are tentative plans to reopen by the beginning of April, depending on circumstances.

For now, boards and commissions hold virtual meetings.

Tierney said virtual meetings conducted in spotty Wi- Fi make it tough for a chairperson to maintain order.

Still, he said he was grateful for these options as they kept the town's business running with less risk of viral spread.

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" It might be the wave of the future," Tierney said.

However, he does hope the annual budget referendum can once again take place in-person this spring.

Chaplin

For Chaplin, the silver lining of the pandemic is government became more accessible, not less, with remote services.

" We've moved to a more approachable way," Chaplin First Selectman William Rose IV said, noting while the telephone rang less, the town's website got more use as people accessed resources online and contacted officials via email.

For business that still needs to be conducted in person, such as pistol permit applications, the town utilizes the shelter provided by the overhang at the front door, with a table situated outside. Plans to use grant funds to install an electronic message board to announce important events and road hazards received priority status from the state as a public safety tool.

Installation of that sign outside the fire station should begin this spring.

Rose said he expects upcoming budget hearings to probably remain largely virtual, but hopes a traditional in-person annual town meeting could be possible come May.

Some Chaplin agencies were able to utilize a hybrid meeting model, with some attendees socially distanced in a large room but virtual participation also available, increasing attendance of those who ordinarily couldn't attend because of family obligations or health concerns.

" I'm confident hybrid meetings will continue; I don't know why we wouldn't want to," Rose said.

Hampton

Hampton's First Selectman Allan Cahill said virtual meetings were beneficial for broader citizen inclusion as well, and hoped for a hybrid town meeting this spring, perhaps outdoors with remote access.

A pavilion on town hall grounds planned well before the pandemic proved timely for transacting town business in a safer manner this past year.

" I have to credit town hall staff and officials, the department of public works, the transfer station — everybody," Cahill said. " Everybody worked harder."

Before the pandemic, the town office building was open two days a week, but Cahill noted public servants were used to making appointments outside of those hours when necessary, and so easily pivoted to responding to requests virtually at all different times this past year.

Unlike neighboring Scotland, which made adjustments to town hall hours as needed in response to different stages of the pandemic, Hampton's town hall has remained fully remote since March.

Cahill said Hampton's town office building may not reopen for a while, noting it will take time to bring the risks from the coronavirus down.

" This isn't going to be fixed in a year or two," Cahill said. " It will take time and it will take a lot of discipline."

He said local volunteers had stepped up as well, ensuring neighbors and senior citizens were not too isolated; noting the benefit to being a small town.

" People get checked on here," he said.

Scotland

Scotland's town hall, which had closed, then reopened with restricted hours, then had to close again, reopened in January, again on a limited schedule.

Most business was able to be conducted online through the town's website.

Staff, however, continue to work remotely when necessary.

In fact, Scotland First Selectman Gary Greenberg said he had too much work this week to be able to comment for this article.

Andover

Andover Town Administrator Eric Anderson said many changes were necessary, but not all were bad.

" It's been a challenge," he said. " We've had to change a lot of our internal procedures and technology."

While currently closed to walk- ins, town staff are still working normal schedules, with in-person business conducted by appointment only.

Anderson said local senior citizens were hardest hit by the changes brought by the pandemic, with officials trying to balance mental health of those suddenly isolated against safety risks. " We've had to retool services to provide necessities," Anderson said, noting instead of bringing seniors to the food pantry or stores, staff brought food to the seniors.

" It's made us examine technology and how we bring services to residents remotely," Anderson said of the pandemic.

While virtual meetings had some disadvantages, such as fully sharing application details, they also provided advantages in allowing people to view the recordings on their own schedules.

" It's been a change," Anderson said. "But it's also made people realize what is possible, so a lot of our changes were beneficial."

For up-to-date information and schedules on town hall services and departments, go online to the municipal websites: www.andoverconnecticut. org; www.chaplinct.org; www. hamptonct. org; www. hebronct. com; and www. scotlandct. org.

This isn't going to be fixed in a year or two. It will take time and it will take a lot of discipline.

Hampton First Selectman Allan Cahill