[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Cazenovia 3-8-2021 by Res. No. 34-2021. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The subject of this chapter is preparation of public employers
for state disaster emergencies involving public health.
This policy was issued April 1, 2021.
As a public employer in the State of New York, the Town of Cazenovia
is required to prepare a plan for the continuation of operations in
the event that the governor declares a state disaster emergency involving
a communicable disease.
The following definitions are to be used for the purpose of
this policy:
An illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that
occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infections
agent or its products from an infected individual.
A designation made that a public employee is required to
be physically present at a work site to perform his or her job. Such
designation may be changed at any time in the sole discretion of the
employer.
A designation made that a public employee is not required
to be physically present at a work site to perform his or her job.
Such designation may be changed at any time in the sole discretion
of the employer.
All equipment worn to minimize the exposure of hazards, including
gloves, masks, face shields, foot and eye protection, protective hearing
devices, respirators, hard hats, and disposable gowns and aprons.
A.
The following
types of positions are considered essential in the event that the
governor declares a state disaster emergency involving a communicable
disease:
|
Department
|
Types of Essential Positions
|
|---|---|
|
Town Board
|
Supervisor, Councilors, Town Clerk
|
|
Business Office
|
Town Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Records and Vital Statics Clerk, Secretary
to Supervisor
|
|
Assessments
|
Town Assessor
|
|
Zoning
|
Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer
|
|
Finance
|
Bookkeeper, Payroll, Equipment Financing
|
|
Highway
|
Highway Superintendent, Deputy Highway Superintendent, Heavy
Equipment Operator, Auto Mechanic, Motor Equipment Operator
|
|
Judiciary
|
Town Judge, Village Judge, Clerk
|
|
Animal Control
|
Dog Control Officer
|
B.
Town of
Cazenovia is committed to ensuring that our residents receive necessary
services during a state disaster emergency involving a communicable
disease. To accomplish this goal, nonessential employees, as defined
above, may require access to technologies, including, but not limited
to, hardware, software, data, and telecommunications. All technology
will be deployed based upon a predetermined Department Priority List
which prioritized public health and public safety first. The Priority
List is created and administered by the Town Clerk.
C.
To the extent
possible, Town of Cazenovia departments will utilize staggering work
shifts in the event of a declared state disaster emergency involving
a communicable disease. Plans will be developed by the department
head and communicated to essential employees based upon Department
of Health guidelines and essential job duties.
D.
Town of
Cazenovia town offices will maintain PPE stockpiles sufficient to
withstand the ninety-day need Town departments based upon peak COVID-19
usage. This stockpile shall be located in a secure facility and in
an environment appropriate to prevent degradation to the PPE. The
Town Clerk in consultation with Madison County Department of Public
Health will determine the specific PPE needs of their essential employees.
Department heads will request the appropriate amount and type of PPE
for their department’s essential employees if needed. The Town
will coordinate with the appropriate Purchasing Agent to ensure PPE
replenishment in order to maintain the ninety-day stockpile if needed
based on requests.
E.
In the event
that an employee is exposed to a known case of the communicable disease,
exhibits symptoms of such disease, or tests positive for such disease,
the following protocol shall be immediately enacted:
(1)
Step
1: Isolate and excuse the sick employee from the workplace. Until
further DOH guidelines are amended or revised, the infected employee
should remain at home until released by the public health official.
DOH will issue a letter to the employee indicating that they are released
from isolation.
(2)
Step
2: Contact DOH and provide assistance with identifying those individuals
who worked in close proximity of the sick employee. Follow current
DOH guidance regarding which employees would need to be placed in
quarantine.
(3)
Step
3: Facilities will utilize cleaning plan per current DOH and CDC guidance
related to the specific communicable disease.
(4)
Step
4: Notify employees: Following a confirmed case, the Town Clerk will
notify all employees who work in the location or area where the sick
employee works. Be sure to follow all applicable laws regarding the
disclosure of any confidential medical information such as the name
of the employee.
F.
The Town
of Cazenovia will utilize all means at its disposal to document the
hours and work locations for essential employees. Such means shall
include, but are not limited to:
G.
The Town
of Cazenovia essential employees who require emergency housing in
order to further contain the spread of a disease subject to this policy
must, with approval of the Town Supervisor and/or Town Clerk, request
housing from the Madison County Office of Emergency Management (MCOEM).
MCOEM will identify an appropriate emergency housing facility, if
one exists, and coordinate with the essential employees to facilitate
its usage. In the event that an appropriate facility does not exist,
MCOEM will establish an emergency shelter for essential employees
in a Madison County facility.
H.
All protocols
identified in this policy are subject to change pursuant to guidance
provided by the Madison County Department of Health or by the NYS
Department of Health based upon the specific communicable disease
characteristics.
Any violations of this policy shall be reported to your immediate
supervisor, the Town Supervisor or via procedures established by the
New York State Department of Labor. Reports may be made verbally or
in writing.
The Town of Cazenovia Supervisor or designee holds the authority
to execute and direct implementation of this plan upon being informed
by Madison County or the NYS Governor’s Office of a public health
emergency. All Town of Cazenovia employees and contractors will be
informed of such an emergency by email or phone. Town of Cazenovia
residents, vendors, etc., will be notified of operational changes
as needed by way of email, newspaper notification or signs affixed
to the office building. The Supervisor and Town Clerk will maintain
communications with the public as necessary.
This policy is effective immediately.
