Stratford planning future pandemic measures

STRATFORD – Possible ease-back measures surrounding COVID-19 are in the planning stages for the Town of Stratford.

The town's council and staff are continuing to maintain and provide essential services amid the ongoing pandemic, while ensuring the health and safety of all residents. As well, town staff has been discussing ways to move forward in the near future.

"While much of this remains outside of our control, we want to ensure that we are as ready as we can be," Mayor Steve Ogden said in a news release. "Staff are planning for a variety of scenarios to deliver as much of our programming and as many events as possible."

Much of their services will likely continue moving to online platforms, but staff members are considering their options, such as running events with attendance limitations or brainstorming "entirely different ways than before" to operate, Ogden said.

The media release also highlighted a few more solidified updates.

The sewage delivery project to Charlottetown's Pollution Control Plant is proceeding and remains on track to be completed in the fall. Town staff has been in communication with the province and the contractors to ensure it may continue in compliance with pandemic measures.

The town's community gardens will remain open, however with more strict rules for gardeners. Only one gardener per plot will be permitted at a time, with no more than a total of five at one time. All must maintain a twometre distance from one another. A rotational schedule will be put in place to outline which days certain garden plots can be accessed.

Stratford's trail networks remain open, and residents who are not selfisolating are encouraged to get outside as much as possible to utilize them. One area of concern is a noticeable increase in dog poop bags being left alongside trails, sidewalks and roadways.