Borough of Bergenfield Declares State of Emergency in Response to Coronavirus 

BERGENFIELD, NJ -- The Borough of Bergenfield’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), upon the recommendation of Mayor Arvin Amatorio and the Council, has officially declared a State of Emergency in order to ensure that the borough has the necessary policies in place to respond to the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic. The declaration will allow borough government to bypass purchasing regulations if necessary, and will also direct all borough departments to create infectious disease control plans, as well as implementing several new policies listed below. 

“While our community has thus far seen fewer positive test results than some of our neighboring towns, we are taking this proactive step to ensure that we are ready to respond to an increase in cases among our residents,” said Mayor Amatorio. “Declaring a State of Emergency will remove regulatory barriers, and I am hopeful that this decisive action will send a signal to all residents to take this crisis seriously and practice social distancing in order to slow the spread of the virus.” 

The State of Emergency declaration mandates the following policy changes: 

• 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. 
• 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. 
• 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. 
• 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.”
• All residents are encouraged to stay within their own properties, avoid large groups and maintain "social distancing" in accordance with CDC guidance. 
• 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. 
• 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. 
• 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.

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

Effective Tuesday March 17th , 2020 By Order of the Bergenfield Health Department all Bergenfield Day Cares will be closed until further notice.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Borough Hall is open for business Monday through Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pm, however you must call and schedule and appointment with the Department you wish to do business with.

Police & Police Records: please call 201-387-4000

Borough Hall: please call 201-387-4055 followed by the following extension:

• Administration - Ext. # 6
• Accounts Payable - Ext. # 8
• Borough Clerk - Ext. # 6
• Building Department - Ext. # 4
• Court - Ext. # 2
• Dept. of Public Works - Ext. # 3
• Fire Prevention - Ext. # 4174
• Health Department - Ext. # 5
• Mayor's Office - Ext. # 6
• Recreation - Ext. # 9
• Tax Assessor - Ext. # 7
• Tax Collector - Ext. # 7

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you however we all need to understand the severity of this matter and the importance of doing what we can do to protect both the public and our employees.

Respectfully,

Corey Gallo, Borough Administrator

Out of the abundance of caution and to help curtail the possibility of community spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Borough of Bergenfield will be implementing the following procedures effective the Close of Business on Friday, March 13.

MUNICIPAL OFFICES & FACILITIES

Municipal Offices-   Physical public access to all municipal offices (including Borough Hall, and the Public Works Office) will be suspended through at least Sunday, March 29.

1. The public lobby of the Municipal Building will be open to the public weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for access to the Tax Collector’s drop box. No loitering shall occur in or around this lobby.
2. All offices are open and Municipal Staff will be available during this time to answer questions and concerns from the public via telephone and email, however no in-office visitation will be permitted for the duration without a scheduled appointment.
3. All residents and property owners are encouraged to utilize our online payment options for taxes.
4. The Bergenfield Municipal Court session scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 and Wednesday march 25^th have been cancelled and all cases will be rescheduled. For more information, please call (201) 387-4055, ext. 2.
5. Emergent matters of the Police Records window (such as alarm permits, dumpster applications and request for discovery) will be handled at the Police Department Dispatch window. Residents are advised to call the Police Record Room (201) 387- 4000 in advance by phone and a mutual schedule time for pick up will be provided to you.

Building Department & Fire Prevention Bureau - Permit application drop off and pick up will be available by appointment only. Please call (201) 387-4055 ext. 4 to arrange an appointment.

• Telephone screening for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to all appointments and inspections will be occurring.
• The Borough will be erring on the side of caution and the inspectors will be using discretion when entering dwellings and interacting with individuals. Only essential contractors, homeowners, or authorized representatives necessary for the completion of any inspection shall be on site during such inspection in an effort to limit unnecessary contact.
• All non-essential inspections by the Building Department and Fire Prevention Bureau are suspended through March 29.
• Residential Smoke, Carbon Monoxide, and Fire Extinguisher inspections for resale and rental of residential dwellings for Closings scheduled on or after April 2 will not be scheduled until April 10^th.
• Any Residential Smoke, Carbon Monoxide, and Fire Extinguisher inspections for resale and rental of residential dwellings for Closings scheduled before April 2 will occur, however; only one realtor, homeowner, or authorized representative shall be on site during such inspection in an effort to limit unnecessary contact.

Department of Public Works – Physical public access to the Public Works Office will be suspended through at least Sunday, March 29.

• All offices are open and Municipal Staff will be available during this time to answer questions and concerns from the public via telephone and email, however no in office visitation will be permitted for the duration without a scheduled appointment.
• Permit application drop off and pick up will be available by appointment only. Please call (201) 387-4055 ext. 3 to arrange an appointment.
• The recycling center will hours will remain in effect as scheduled.
• All other DPW operations such as trash and recycling will in remain in effect as well       

Recreation – All Recreation facilities are closed until March 29th.

• All organized sanctioned recreation activities such as basketball, baseball, softball, soccer is suspended through March 29.
• For appointments with Recreation, please call Recreation Director Ed Volmer at 201-387-4055 ext. 9

Bergenfield Public Library

• The Bergenfield Public Library will be closed tentatively until Monday, April, 6^th.
• You may still return items in our bookdrop located at the Library.
• There will be no fines on Bergenfield items during this time.

Senior Transport & Medical Transport  

All routes of the Senior Transport Van are suspended through at least Monday March 30^th.

Public Meetings

• All Boards (Planning & Zoning) and Committee meetings are cancelled through March 31^st.
• The Borough Mayor & Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 17^th, will be held as scheduled.
• Due to the spread of the Coronavirus and to protect our residents and employees, the Borough is requesting that attendance at the meeting be limited to those with an urgent need to attend. Accordingly, no large presentations or proclamations will be given until this situation is further clarified.

If your issue is urgent, please email Borough Administrator Corey Gallo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for assistance.  Understanding that the public’s right to communicate with its elected officials is important, the Borough Council will increase the time for public comment on Borough matters in a subsequent meeting when it’s safer for all. If you feel obligated to attend the upcoming Mayor & Council meeting, we ask that you exercise appropriate caution and follow the recommendations of medical professionals to avoid the spread of this virus.

Overnight Parking  

• Overnight Parking will be suspended through March 30^th . Please comply with all other parking statutes and ordinances, as they will remain in effect and will be strictly enforced. Any parking-related questions can be directed to the Bergenfield Police Department at (201) 387-4000.

All information provided is subject to change as this pandemic evolves. Residents are advised to monitor the Borough’s website and online social media for updates. While we realize that changing normal routines, cancelling events and not seeing friends can be disruptive and upsetting, we are taking CDC recommendations very seriously and urge you to do the same.

The Borough understands the public’s concerns about COVID-19 and the Health Department is working closely with the NJDOH and the CDC to monitor and respond to the situation.

The Health Department reminds the public to practice proper hygiene:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and remember to throw the tissue into the trash
• Avoid close contact with sick people
• Stay home if you are sick

The CDC has identified older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung, or kidney disease are at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness. According to the CDC, early data suggest older people are twice as likely to have serious COVID-19 illness.

That is why the CDC recommends that people at higher risk follow the measures cited below:

• Stay at home as much as possible
• Stock up on supplies, food, and prescriptions.
• Take advantage of the many delivery options in our community.
• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact, and wash your hands often.

Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.

• Avoid crowds as much as possible.
• Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
• We are committed to staying connected to our older residents during this health emergency and have taken the steps to make regular calls to our most vulnerable seniors at home. We will also stay in contact with regular updates via phone or email.

Symptoms to monitor include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you experience any symptoms, please contact your medical care provider.

We strongly urge all residents to take all necessary precautions to prevent the community spread of COVID-19. We cannot over emphasize the importance of limiting social contact while the Borough and the School District restrictions are in place. Taking the necessary precautions and remaining mindful of restricting person-to-person contact should be foremost in our day-to-day lives for the time being.

The Bergenfield Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has activated the Bergenfield Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the Borough’s monitoring and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bergenfield OEM is working 24/7 with the Mayor & Council, the Borough Administrator, Bergenfield Dept. of Health, Bergenfield Vol. Ambulance Corps, Bergenfield Police Dept., Bergenfield Fire Dept., and the Bergenfield Board of Education to keep our residents healthy.

The best way to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 is by social distancing and good hygiene including frequent hand washing. If you feel sick and need medical attention and are not experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call your doctor or the State of NJ COVID19 hotline (800-222-1222) for guidance before calling 911. Unnecessarily going to the emergency room or doctor’s office will increase your exposure risk and potentially overwhelm the hospitals.

From the CDC: If you are an older adult or have a severe chronic medical condition, take extra measures to put distance between yourself and other people to reduce your risk of being exposed:

• Stay home as much as possible
• Have enough household items and groceries on hand if you need to stay home
• Monitor your health and keep in touch with your doctor

Out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to protect the high-risk populations that we serve as well as minimize the potential exposure/transmission of COVID-19, the Borough of Bergenfield has requested that the public library close starting Friday March 13 with a tentative reopening date of Monday April 6. All scheduled community meetings, programs and events are cancelled during this time period.

If you have items on hold that have already arrived at the library, please pick them up today (Thursday March 12.) We will be open until 9:00 PM. Effective March 13, Bergenfield cardholders will not be able to place holds in the BCCLS catalog. Due dates for all Bergenfield materials have been updated to April 6.  You may still return items in our bookdrop, and there will be no fines on Bergenfield items during this time.