Lamont rejects plea by local leaders
Officials proposed limited inside dining in plan for reopening
The rules Gov. Ned Lamont released Saturday for the partial reopening of restaurants on May 20 ignore a major recommendation made to him late last week by the chief elected officials of seven southeastern Connecticut municipalities.
The leaders of Stonington, Stonington Borough, East Lyme, Ledyard, Montville, Norwich and Waterford urged Lamont to allow restaurants to open with a minimum of 50% inside capacity with at least 6 feet between tables. Mystic restaurant owner Dan Meiser, who is the board chairman of the Connecticut Restaurant Association and a member of Lamont’s reopening task force, also urged Lamont to allow partial indoor dining.
But the rules released by Lamont continue to restrict restaurants to only outdoor dining, something some restaurants are unable to offer or feel makes no economic sense based on their overhead costs. Bar areas are also prohibited from reopening.
The mayors, first selectmen and one warden pointed out in their letter to Lamont that the “average profit margin of 3-5% for a restaurant is already extremely tight in good times. For most local establishments we have spoken with, opening outside alone will not be a feasible option. Outside, with the additional option
of 50% inside could be enough to allow them to open and sustain for the coming months.”
“We also understand that COVID-19 will remain a tragic part of our communities for the longer-term. We need to do all we can to keep our most vulnerable residents safe, while also ensuring we are doing all we can to prevent irreversible damage to our local businesses. Restaurants are a hub that drive much of our local economies, without them many of our towns will see temporary closures and unemployment become permanent,” they added. “Our concern is not strictly economic, as we also understand the impacts unemployment can have on mental health, crime and families. The effects of unemployment extend well beyond the individual.”
Under Lamont’s rules, all employees are required to wear a mask or other cloth face covering unless doing so would be contrary to their health or safety due to medical conditions. Table servers must use gloves and replace them frequently.
Restaurants must ensure employees do not share equipment; must rearrange workstations so food workers do not face one another and are 6 feet apart; and servers shall be assigned to specific work zones. Self-serve buffets are banned; there must be increased kitchen ventilation; and social distancing markers must be posted 6 feet apart.
Other requirements are that restaurants must offer disposable paper menus, display menus on wall boards or whiteboards or have customers view menus on their phone; use single-use condiment packets, and use rolled or packaged silverware as well as contactless payment systems, trash cans and paper towel and soap dispensers. Restaurants also must post signs informing employees and customers of the state hotline (211) to report potential rule violations.
Customers are required to bring and wear masks or cloth face coverings unless doing so would be contrary to their health or safety due to a medical condition or when eating in a restaurant.
There are also extensive cleaning requirements, and restaurants must check the health of their employees each day.
Restaurants also can complete an online self-certification that earns them a Reopen CT badge they can post at the restaurant and use on social media.
The seven town leaders also have called for the issuance of temporary patio liquor permits by local officials. But the state Liquor Control Division is requiring restaurants to submit an application with signatures of approval from the local fire marshal, zoning officer and health official.
They also asked for the authority to temporarily allow outdoor dining at restaurants without the requirement of a new land-use permit. The Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to meet Tuesday to approve a temporary policy that will allow outdoor seating at restaurants without the benefit of landuse permits as long as they meet certain requirements, such as having no more seats than they are permitted and hours do not extend past 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends.