A screen grab from this week’s Seymour Board of Selectmen meeting, which was held online.
SEYMOUR — Town government is working on a plan to re-open parks and government to a limited extent.
More information should be available Thursday or Friday, according to statements made by Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller at a Seymour Board of Selectmen meeting held online Tuesday.
The town is taking a few days to see if any changes take place to Gov. Ned Lamont’s COVID-19 executive orders.
Seymour is tentatively scheduled to “reopen” town hall June 1.
“By reopening town hall, I mean we’re going to have every department open every day,” Miller said before adding a crucial detail: “It’s going to be by appointment only.”
Seymour Town Hall employees will work on a rotating basis. The town will continue to have an attendant at town hall to limit public access.
“So that way they can organize people as they are coming in,” Miller said. “If you don’t have an appointment, then you are either going to have to wait, or you could potentially be turned away.”
The policy is in place to adhere to social distancing guidelines, which are designed to slow the transmission of the virus, of which there is no vaccine nor mass testing.
The Seymour Public Library and the Seymour Community Center will remain closed to the public, Miller said.
Seymour parks are tentatively scheduled to open May 23, Miller told the Board of Selectmen.
“Fields and walking areas, (such as) Bungay Field, Chatfield Park walking track, the high school track, things like that we’re going to open up. People are going to have to wear mask, social distancing … whatever the requirements are,” Miller said.
No organized sports (or group activities) will be allowed. Playgrounds and basketball courts will remain closed, Miller said.
According to data from the Naugatuck Valley Health District, 202 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since March. In addition, 117 people tested have received negative test results. According to the health district, 34 people have died, which doesn’t include four “probable” COVID-19 associated deaths.
Seymour is home to Shady Knoll Health Center, a 128-bed nursing home. Nursing homes across the country have been devastated by the coronavirus. According to data from the state health department, 73 Shady Knoll residents there have tested positive since March and 26 people have died. The facility was cited for two alleged infection control deficiencies during an inspection in late April.
