Montco renews disaster declaration
Commissioner Gale objects as Democrats push extension for sixth time in the past year
NORRISTOWN >> Approaching the anniversary of the first COVID-19 cases being reported in Montgomery County, elected officials renewed a previously issued disaster declaration during a recent Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting.
The order was initially established on March 8, 2020, according to the proclamation. Officials cited “widespread outbreak of coronavirus that overwhelmed first responders, health care providers and businesses within Montgomery County.”
The legislation instructs the county’s Office of Public Health and the Department of Public Safety “to coordinate the activities of the emergency response; to take all appropriate action needed to alleviate the effects of this disaster; to aid in the restoration of essential public services; and to take any other emergency response action deemed necessary to respond to this disaster emergency.”
It was extended in April, in June, August, October, and again in December 2020. The most recent extension lapsed on Feb. 5. The additional authority retroactively took effect on Feb. 6, and would cover the next 60-day window until early April. It was approved in a 2-1 vote with Republican Commissioner Joe Gale as the sole dissident.
“This once again allows us to act more swiftly in responding to issues which arise as a result of the pandemic, which is something that we have utilized on a number of occasions so we could cut through the red tape and get assistance to people as they need it,” said Solicitor Josh Stein. “This also allows us to submit for reimbursement from the state should any of that funding become available.”
A COVID-19 disaster declaration has been renewed at the federal level, and Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to extend the statewide version next week, according to Stein.
Additionally, county leaders authorized several contracts related to the ongoing local pandemic response efforts.
An agreement between the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and PeopleShare LLC., of Collegeville, covers the $26 per hour staffing rates for temporary workers at vaccination clinics.
The county’s health department entered into a contract with Epic Health Services PA LLC., of Atlanta, to provide for skilled nursing services at countyrun COVID-19 vaccination sites, according to the contract, which amounts to $5,800 per week.
Montgomery County’s IT department requested another $61,547.50 for “an additional 351.7 hours of contact tracing service under the disease and outbreak management system implementation,” according to the contract.
The previously revised contract with Philadelphia-based firm RSM US LLP now stands at $96,547.50.
In other business, a housekeeping item updating the Montgomery County Public Health Code to include language related to the COVID-19 pandemic was approved in a 2-1 vote, with Gale dissenting.
“I do not support travel restrictions related to COVID-19. I do not support the closure of businesses related to COVID-19,” Gale said. “I do not support the closure of schools due to COVID-19, and I don’t support restrictions or limits on the number of people who can gather indoors or outdoors for gatherings, and I do not support mandatory face coverings because of COVID-19, and I do not support mandatory social distancing measures.” “This does not represent any changes to the code itself except for clarification that COVID-19 belongs as a main disease in the code,” said Janet Panning, interim administrator of the Montgomery County Office of Public Health.
Specifically, the code was updated to recognize coronavirus 2019, which is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2, as a “reportable disease,” according to Panning, who added that there were stipulations included for isolation and quarantine measures, as well as clarifications surrounding gatherings and sporting events.
The next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on March 4.
“This once again allows us to act more swiftly in responding to issues which arise as a result of the pandemic, which is something that we have utilized on a number of occasions so we could cut through the red tape and get assistance to people as they need it. This also allows us to submit for reimbursement from the state should any of that funding become available.”
— Montgomery County Solicitor Josh Stein