Commissioners extend emergency disaster declaration

NORRISTOWN » The Montgomery County Commissioners have extended a countywide emergency disaster declaration as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the area’s way of life.

The proclamation allows the county’s Department of Public Safety and Office of Public Health to coordinate response efforts “to take all appropriate action needed to alleviate the effects of this disaster, to aid in the respiration of essential public services and to take any other emergency response action deemed necessary to respond to this disaster emergency,” Montgomery County Commissioners Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh read from the ini

tial resolution earlier this month when it was formalized.

The announcement goes through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code, she said.

The declaration was valid for 45 days and set to expire on April 21, according to the revised resolution. The current legislation would maintain the declaration for roughly two more months.

County Solicitor Joshua Stein emphasized the importance of the extension because “it appears we will need this for some time.”

The commissioners also

approved a pay increase for essential county workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a county spokesperson, the legislation would allow for “qualified full- and part-time employees” to receive an “increase of up to $400 per pay period.”

Stein added that the eligible employees have jobs “that are deemed essential and ... would otherwise put them at increased risk of contracting COVID-19.”

Meanwhile, county officials authorized the hiring of several new employees.

They include a park ranger within the Montgomery County Department of Assets and Infrastructure, a case worker for the children and youth sector

of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, a deputy coroner for the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, and a program specialist for the Montgomery County Office of Developmental Disabilities.

While Commissioner Ken Lawrence Jr. did vote in support of this action, he voiced some reservations about hiring “during this time of uncertainty.”

“We need to continue to be vigilant about any new positions during this time, and ... we may have some very tough decisions to make over the next few weeks or month,” he said.

Redevelopment Authority

In other business, the commissioners also mobilized

the creation of the Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority. The legislative entity features aid for three economic programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MontcoStrong Small Business Grant Program allows for “financial support” for small businesses, according to the resolution. The Montgomery County Opportunity Loan Program works to “help small and medium sized businesses grow their employee base and maximize the value of their investments in land and capital equipment.”

According to the resolution, the county’s redevelopment authority would also “serve as the designated certified economic development organization, permitting it to manage and administer loans funded by

the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority.”

Thanking residents

Despite the difficult circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Arkoosh expressed her appreciation to area residents for their efforts adhering to social distancing guidelines.

“We know that this is coming with significant, significant personal sacrifices … but hopefully by continuing to do this we will get out of this as quickly as possible,” she said.

Arkoosh said limiting contact and social distancing has allowed essential operations to continue running smoothly including at hospitals and grocery stores.

“Those efforts have created a relatively stable situation

here in the county,” she said.

However, she did acknowledge the “difficult economic toll” as non-essential businesses remain closed.

“We want people to know that we are working to figure out options for starting to relax social distancing and for opening up businesses across our region,” Arkoosh said.

She encouraged her constituents to “hang in there” during this difficult time.

“We will absolutely get through this, and the quickest way that we will get through this is to continue the strict social distancing that has gotten us in a relatively good position compared to other places in the United States,” Arkoosh said.