The declaration, enacted on March 23rd, 2020, states as follows.
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-5
DECLARATION OF DISASTER EMERGENCY
FELL TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020, the first case of coronavirus known as COVID-19 was confirmed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
WHEREAS, on the same day the Governor of Pennsylvania signed a Proclamation of Emergency Disaster and has since ordered the closure of nonessential businesses;
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Lackawanna County Commissioners issued a Declaration of Emergency Disaster, three days later the first confirmed case of the coronavirus was reported in Lackawanna County, and now there are a total of six confirmed cases;
WHEREAS, since March 6, 2020, four deaths have been reported in Pennsylvania and total number cases in Pennsylvania nears 500;
WHEREAS, this disaster has caused or threatens to cause injury, damage, and suffering to the persons and property of Fell Township;
WHEREAS, the disaster has the potential to endanger the health, safety and welfare of a substantial number of persons residing in Fell Township, and threatens to create problems greater in scope than problems Fell Township may be able to resolve; and
WHEREAS, emergency management measures are required to reduce the severity of this disaster and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Fell Township;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fell Township Board of Supervisors pursuant to the provisions of Section 7501 of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code, (35 PA C.S., Section 7501), as amended, do hereby declare the existence of a disaster emergency in Fell Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, and immediately order the closure of the municipal building to the public and the limit activities in the public parks to social gatherings of less than 10 persons provided those persons could maintain the social distancing requirements set by the CDC, and cancel all public meetings and hearings until further notice. Public contact will be limited to telephone, mail, and email and the Township will not be accepting any cash payments for permits only checks or money orders.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Fell Township Board of Supervisors direct the Emergency Management Coordinator to coordinate the activities of the emergency response, to take all appropriate action needed to alleviate the effects of this disaster, to aid in the restoration of essential public services, and to take any other emergency response action deemed necessary to respond to this emergency.
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, the Fell Township Board of Supervisors do hereby authorize its Chairperson to act as necessary to meet the current exigencies of this emergency, including employing temporary workers, making temporary decisions in regards to the current work force, renting equipment, purchasing supplies and materials, and entering into contracts and agreements for the performance of public work as may be required to meet the emergency, all without regard to those time-consuming procedures and formalities normally prescribed by law, mandatory constitutional requirements excepted.
This Resolution of Declaration shall take effect immediately.
Fell Township 