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Town gears up to enforce ‘New York state on PAUSE’
April 08, 2020
by MARIA PERICOZZI Editor
Supervisor Ronald Ruffino said at Monday’s town board meeting that Lancaster is onboard with the PAUSE order, and the Lancaster Police will issue tickets and fines to those who do not comply.
The PAUSE order includes social distancing, closure of non-essential businesses, ban on non-essential public gatherings, limiting outdoor activities to non-contact activities, and limiting the use of public transportation to essential travel.
“Here in Lancaster, we’re going to take it seriously,” Ruffino said. “We’re going to do our part. We’re going to do our job.”
Ruffino said the number of positive coronavirus cases just keep going up. As of Wednesday morning, there are 41 COVID-19 cases in the Town and Village of Lancaster, and a section of Depew east of Transit Road. There are currently 85 cases in the Cheektowaga/Sloan area and a section of Depew west of Transit Road. There are 910 active cases of COVID-19 in Erie County, with 223 recoveries and 30 deaths.
“You’re going to start finding it’s hitting closer and closer to home,” Ruffino said. “I can’t wait until this is over.”
Ruffino shared his concerns about public transportation still running. He said he understands essential workers need to get to work, but they should find a way to only let essential workers use public transportation. He said he expressed his concerns to the state and county officials.
“Going to get a loaf of bread at the grocery store to me is no longer essential,” Ruffino said.
COVID-19 signs were also put in front of all the local fields and playgrounds at local parks, and all of the nets have been taken down. Tennis and basketball courts have also been locked and are closed to the public.
Ruffino also received a letter from Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw, warning the town that the coronavirus pandemic will most certainly have a negative impact to bed tax and sales tax revenue, which will influence the bottom line.
With the limitations placed on restaurants and bars for takeout or delivery only, and the closing of movie theatres, bowling alleys and more, it will negatively impact the bottom line. In addition, with people working from home and staying home because no outside entertainment is available, the sales tax revenue will take a major hit, Ruffino said.
The 2020 budget for sales tax revenue is $5.8 million.
“Obviously we will fall short of that number, but how far south of it is yet to be determined,” Ruffino wrote in an email to town staff. “Given the situation and in preparation for the inevitable, I am asking each person on this memo to be extremely diligent of their spending this year and only making purchases that are of the utmost importance.”
Ruffino asked if staff have a vehicle purchase budgeted for 2020, and it can wait until late 2020 or 2021, to let him know.
“Remember, we are all in this together,” Ruffino wrote.
The next town board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 20, via teleconference.
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