COUNCIL APPROVES PLAN TO ‘SAVE MAIN STREET’

Public safety debated during June virtual meeting

Council debated solutions to problems and next steps for moving forward as the borough works and hopes to emerge from the remnants of a global shutdown of society.

The borough council voted in favor 4-3 on Wednesday to close off portions of Walnut, Market and Gay streets uptown 24/7 to create a new spacious, safe and pedestrian-friendly environment.

The Main Street Strong Committee created the plan. Council passed the resolution to implement its vision after an hour of discussion.

“We’re trying to save Main Street,” Mayor Dianne Herrin said. “Part of this is because we need to save our businesses, and we need people to come into town, spending money and spending time. And that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Councilman Bill Scott said, “We’re talking about an emergency measure to save our downtown, to save our businesses downtown. I’m not in any way convinced that this should be permanent.”

Cross streets High and Church are scheduled to stay open while the plan calls for Gay Street to close between Matlack and Darlington

“We’re talking about an emergency measure to save our downtown, to save our businesses downtown. I’m not in any way convinced that this should be permanent.” — Councilman Bill Scott

streets.

Tuesday’s monthly meeting included the borough manager, mayor and council members discussing a wide range of topics from masks to construction besides parking, access for emergency responders, deliveries and other topical logistical concerns regarding closing down Market and Gay streets.

On March 13, President Donald Trump declared the matter a national emergency; that same day, Gov. Tom Wolf closed all public and private schools. It became a domino effect.

Wolf ordered the closure of the entire hospitality industry on March 14 to mitigate potential pandemic exposure in the commonwealth, as declared via executive order.

Wolf declared a state of emergency in March.

To protect the most vulnerable, seniors and those with compromised immune systems or underlying conditions, society shut down.

Soon after, winter ended with the seasonal return of spring. But by April, the state parks were all closed, too. People stayed home mostly. Isolated.

Those able to work from home did so. However, many people, including single parent bread winners, lost their jobs. Forty-five million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits during the last 90 days.

Some businesses will never reopen again because of the financial hardship this crisis has caused and are now permanently closed.

Some businesses, at first deemed nonessential, were then later granted exemptions by the Wolf administration. The state denied other businesses waivers to reopen.

For over 90 days, pubs, coffee shops and restaurants in Chester County remained blocked by the state from serving patrons food and beverages inside their establishments.

Yet spring’s return, more and more people ventured outside as the weather warmed after Easter Sunday.

And by May, the novel coronavirus curve in Pennsylvania flattened. Fewer cases. Fewer deaths.

To date, fewer than 400 people have died from COVID-19 in Chesco, according to the county coroner. Approximately 90%of the people who have died were senior citizens under care in assisted living facilities.

Nearly 20,000 people have tested negative of COVID-19 in Chester County during the last three months, according to the Pennsylvania National Electronic Disease Surveillance System.

The state has had fewer than 3,400 total COVID-19 cases confirmed or defined as probable including 309 deaths.

Out of the total deaths from COVID-19 in the county, 257 have occurred in residents from longterm care facilities or personal care facilities.

The state also reported 799 COVID-19 cases of senior citizens residents at 43 long-term care facilities in Chesco. Plus, 207 employee cases were reported.

But an additional 32 long-term care communities and personal care homes in Chester County have suffered zero cases.

The first death in Chester County related to COVID-19 occurred March 28, as previously reported.

Almost a month later, effective April 18, the state mandated that people must wear masks in public places such as grocery stores and gas stations.

When PennDOT gives West Chester the green light to proceed and close off portions of Walnut, Market and Gay streets uptown, work meetings will immediately resume over lunch and tea and friends will meet up for coffee or martinis again. Families and couples will venture out again, too.

To support small business, prohibiting vehicle traffic in the heart of town is a way to increase traffic for restaurants via outdoor dining limited to sidewalk space only.

Since indoor dining remains prohibited under Wolf’s executive emergency order “yellow” phase, restaurants in popular places don’t have a lot of room outside their venues to flip tables.

For elected officials who voted “yes” to increasing outdoor dining space by closing off a few blocks at the heart of West Chester’s borough is an opportunity for people to connect as a community again while still adhering to social distance best practices.

Across southeastern Pennsylvania, Wolf lifted the ban on outside dining at businesses June 5 after advancing the region to a less restrictive “yellow” phase from a more restrictive “red” zone.

When Wolf opts to grant Chester County to “green” status, limited indoor dining can resume. Barber shops can open up, too, and hair salons.

JEN SAMUEL — MEDIANEWS GROUP The Old Courthouse in West Chester is located in the heart of the borough.