Gettysburg Borough has outlined its current plans to help local businesses reopen safely and successfully.
“In 1863 we were a divided county and we were fighting each other during that campaign here in Gettysburg. Today we’re united and fighting another enemy, an invisible one, COVID-19,” said Borough Manager Charles Gable at Thursday’s Emergency Task Force press conference. “Gettysburg has proven to be a champion of its local businesses.”
Gable said 120 businesses had signed up for the Main Street Gettysburg Cares program. Gable said the program sends the message to tourists that “when you come to Gettysburg our businesses are ready to receive you and help protect you.”
Main Street Gettysburg CEO Deb Adamik said the goal of the CARES program was to tell people that “we care about them and we are slowly opening for business. This enemy is the virus.”
“Everyone wants to be healthy; everyone wants to be safe; everyone wants to be financially sound,” said Adamik.
Adamik said the CDC had confirmed masks, social distancing, washing your hands regularly, and personal health monitoring including staying home if you are sick were critical in helping the community quickly move back to normal.
“It seems we have turned the corner on the health crisis. That is not to mitigate or denigrate the fact that we still have a healthcare crisis,” said Gable.
Gable also announced the following changes to borough schedules:
- The mayor’s disaster declaration will remain in effect.
- The borough building will be accessible to the public on a limited basis by appointment only. Visitors will be restricted to the lobby and must wear face masks.
- The borough will begin issuing permits and licenses.
- All borough parking regulations will return to normal.
- Waste Connections will resume bulk item pickup on June 1.
- Board meetings will continue to be held virtually.
Police Chief Robert Glenny said the goal of the police dept. was “not to be arresting or citing a number of people, but rather to keep people safe. We are not going to close open businesses,” said Glenny, but said violations will be documented.
Glenny said business owners have the right to ask customers who do not follow guidelines to leave.
Glenny said the nighttime curfew is still in place.
Gable said the borough’s zero-interest loan program, adopted from an existing Main Street Gettysburg program, had been a success that had been “developed in less than a week to serve as supplemental funding for Gettysburg’s hurting businesses.”
Gable said the program is now serving as a template for other communities as they design their own disaster-recovery programs.
Organizations around the state are “currently looking to Main Street Gettysburg for guidance how to launch best launch similar programs,” said Gable.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.