Warren extends State of Emergency until April 14

The Warren Town Council on Friday extended the town’s State of Emergency, due to expire Sunday, by three weeks. Actions provided for in the original declaration, including the suspension of entertainment licenses and eat-in dining restrictions, among other measures, will remain in place until at least Tuesday, April 14. The original declaration was enacted last Sunday, March 15.

In a meeting unlike any other in memory, council members, Warren Town Manager Kate Michaud, Warren Town Solicitor Anthony DeSisto and Warren Town Clerk Julie Coelho met at 3:30 p.m. in town hall council chambers to consider the extension. Several councilors sat in their normal seats while others sat in pews normally reserved for the public, to keep at least six feet between each other.

“We’re in this together folks, you know, we’re in this together,” councilor Steve Calenda said. “It’s unprecedented and we’re in uncharted waters. We’ll steady the storm. We’ll be fine.”

Councilors singled out Warren Senior Center Director Betty Hoague, Warren Fire Chief James Sousa, Ms. Michaud and members of the police department for praise, saying all have so far done an outstanding job keeping abreast of the crisis, which has already touched many of them personally. On the way in to the meeting, councilor Brandt Heckert said half-jokingly that he is now unemployed, the first time in decades that he hasn’t had an income. As the owner of Pastiche bakery in Providence, he said he has had to lay off his entire staff of approximately 40 workers.

State of Emergency

Effective through Tuesday, April 14:

1. Gatherings of 25 people or more are prohibited in Warren. Gatherings subject to this restriction include, but are not limited to, community, civic, public, leisure or faith-based events, sporting events with spectators, concerts, conventions, fund-raisers, parades, fairs, festivals, and any other similar activity that brings together 25 or more people at the same time.

2. Any restaurant, bar or establishment that offers food or drink shall not permit on-premises consumption of food or drink; provided that such establishments may continue to offer food and non-alcoholic beverages for take-out and delivery in accordance with the social distancing protocols and guidance set forth by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

3. All entertainment licenses and event permits will be suspended, and no new licenses or permits will be issued.

4. All non-essential public meetings will be canceled and rescheduled.

5. Town Hall is open by appointment only. Many services can be provided online, and there is lots of information available on the town’s website. Detailed information is available on the website or by calling the Town Clerk’s office at 401-245-7340 ex. 4.

6. There will be a document lock box located in the back stairwell of Town Hall (accessible via the rear parking area) between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Tax payments may be made online or via the lock box located in the lobby of Government Center (the police station).

Building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permit applications may also be filed online, mailed or dropped in the lock box. Links to voter registration forms and mail ballot applications can be found online, with links on the town’s website.

7. Town hall offices and the offices of the Warren Housing Authority are closed. Any seniors in need of assistance should call Director Betty Hoague at 247-1930.

"We will be reassessing the situation daily with our local core response team, which includes department heads and public safety personnel," Warren Town Manager Kate Michaud wrote in a press release.

More information

Town of Warren's dedicated coronavirus page

www.townofwarren-ri.gov/news_detail_T6_R39.php

RI Department of Health

https://health.ri.gov/diseases/ncov2019/

401-222-8022.

CDC:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Commerce RI small business hotline

401-521-HELP
Email: info@commerceri.gov

Kate Michaud, Town Manager

401-245-7554

kmichaud@townofwarren-ri.gov

Julie Coelho, Town Clerk

401-245-7340 ex. 4

jcoelho@townofwarren-ri.gov