The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Village Hall reopening to the public
Residents are still encouraged to use drop box outside of building to submit water payments or other correspondence
Fairport Harbor Village Hall is reopening to the public on April 5, but the community’s government leaders are still asking for visitors’ cooperation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the building.
“Masks still will be required until further notice,” village Administrator Amy Cossick said.
In addition, the second floor of the building, which houses the village Fire Department, “will remain closed to the public to ensure the safety of our first responders,” Cossick added.
The April 5 reopening will mark the first time in about 4 1/2 months that the general public has been permitted inside Village Hall, which is located at 220 Third St.
On Nov. 17, Fairport Harbor Mayor Timothy Manross announced that Village Hall was being closed to ensure the safety of the public and village government employees at a time that COVID-19 cases were surging in Lake County. During that same stretch, COVID-19 had begun to affect people within and connected to the village government workforce, Manross said.
Fairport Harbor Village Hall previously closed to the public on March 16, as the COVID-19 crisis began to unfold. The building reopened to residents and visitors on July 6.
Even with the building slated for its latest reopening on April 5, Cossick is encouraging residents to continue using the drop box at the Third Street entrance to Village Hall to submit their water payments or other correspondence. Water payments also can be made online at fairportharboroh.govtportal.com.
Another change in the government operations that will take place in April deals with Fairport Harbor Village Council meetings.
On April 20, council will resume holding traditional, in-person meetings at the Fairport Harbor Senior Center, located at 1380 East St.
“There will be limited seating due to the state requirements for those meeting in groups,” Cossick said.
The last time council gathered as a group for an in-person meeting was more than a year ago, on March 3, 2019. On April 21, remote meetings by video conference began taking place at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month.
Residents who remain hesitant about assembling in larger groups will be able to view the meetings through a link on the village’s website, Cossick said.