With the uptick in COVID-19 cases in the community, some towns and cities in the region are shifting to virtual meetings and finding ways to adjust to staffing challenges, while some only have a few employees that need to quarantine. 

Town Manager John Burt said Groton has faced some challenges with staffing at times, but is managing. He said one department alone — the police — had about a dozen coronavirus cases.

Town police Chief L.J. Fusaro said the department has been pretty significantly impacted by COVID-19 over the last couple of weeks, mostly among officers but also civilian personnel, such as dispatchers.

He said no one needed to be hospitalized and most are on their way to recovery or have recovered, but the spike impacted staffing levels and forced other officers to pick up additional shifts. Members of the department have been helping to cover for one another when there are vacancies. For example, additional people stepped up to help during this week’s COVID-19 test kit and mask distribution, and Fusaro said he appreciates the work of members of the police department, volunteers and the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department.

Just as officers are told to stay home if they don’t feel well, or to alert their supervisor if they start to feel ill at work, so they don’t infect other people, he said, it's also helpful if people who are experiencing symptoms or know they have COVID-19 share that with first responders up front, prior to interactions, so the first responders can tweak their efforts and stay safe.

The department also wants police officers to set an example by wearing masks when interacting with the public and social distancing, and asks the public to also extend the courtesy of wearing a mask and social distancing to protect officers, “so that we can continue protecting them,” Fusaro said.

In Norwich, police Deputy Chief Corey Poore said the police station lobby was closed at the start of this week in response to growing numbers of COVID-19 illnesses and staff shortages in the department. Members of the public can use an intercom system to call dispatch or speak to an officer.

At the Stonington police department, Capt. Todd Olson said Thursday that six of the department’s 40 officers are in quarantine, which has not caused a major staffing problem. He said the department continues to clean and take many other measures to stop the coronavirus from spreading, such as meeting residents outside when possible, wearing masks and holding roll call meetings in a larger room or outside.

"We're trying very hard to keep it out of this building," he said.

Olson added the department is ready to assist other departments with staffing shortages, if needed.

Interim Waterford police Chief Marc Balestracci said the department has seen some impact from the pandemic, “but nothing excessive at one period of time.”

“The impact we have experienced is slow and steady, which has allowed us to manage staffing without issue,” he said. 

The Norwich city tax office has been closed to the public for in-person tax payments this week because of COVID-19 staff reductions. It is expected to reopen Monday.

Norwich Human Services Director Tara Booker said Friday her office also is short-staffed and now is open by appointment only, preferably contacting clients by phone if possible.

Norwich City Manager John Salomone instituted a mandate for city employees this week, and will start requiring either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or weekly test results of all employees starting mid-month.

Montville Mayor Ron McDaniel said his town has a few public works employees out, so snowplowing for Friday’s storm was expected to be affected.

Stonington First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough said Wednesday that just three town employees were out of work quarantining. "We've been very fortunate," she said, adding that employees are encouraged not to come in if they have any symptoms.

City of Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick said the city has had some COVID-19 cases among employees, as well as employees having to quarantine because family members tested positive. The cases impacted Groton Utilities employees and city employees, including the police department. But he said the city has not had to shut down any departments, and department heads have been able to manage through staffing adjustments and overtime.

Meetings 

Some municipalities are moving public meetings to larger facilities or have decided to hold them virtually. 

Groton is shifting to virtual meetings for the month of January. “The Town has transitioned to virtual meetings due to the current COVID-19 wave affecting so many in our community,” Burt said.  “This is an attempt to keep our employees and volunteers safe.” 

New London has notified its various boards and committees that meetings are to be virtual, though only a small handful had been meeting in person.

Salomone directed the two January Norwich City Council meetings to be held in the hybrid format, with some city staff present, but no members of the public in person. The aldermen have the option of being in person or phoning in. The meetings are livestreamed on the city website and broadcast live on Comcast Norwich cable Channel 97.

Salomone also is urging all city boards and commissions to conduct meetings remotely. Some meetings are being held in person and some by remote access. He reinstituted a universal mask mandate for all city buildings this month, as well.

Groton City on Tuesday implemented a mask mandate for all municipally owned buildings, Hedrick said. “We’re continuing to deep clean,” he added of the city’s safety protocols. “We’re continuing the masking, the distancing. We are encouraging people to get tested and to get vaccinated.”

Hedrick said the city is continuing to hold in-person meetings. If committees wish to hold their meetings virtually or in hybrid format, they can do that, he said, but the mayor and council meetings — which also are broadcast on municipal television — are continuing in person. He said people need to wear masks during the meetings unless they maintain 6 feet of distance from other people. 

Most Preston meetings are being held in person, with some shifted to larger facilities, such as Preston Plains Middle School or town fire stations, rather than small Town Hall meeting rooms. Masks are required at all meetings. The Board of Education switched its regular Jan. 10 meeting to remote access only.

McDaniel said there are no changes to meetings in Montville, as masks already are required in town buildings. 

As for board and commission meetings in Stonington, Chesebrough said she is encouraging chairmen to hold in-person meetings with masks or hybrid meetings with a remote option for those who do not feel comfortable being in a meeting room. At Tuesday night's Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, all members, staff and residents wore masks.

She said that for chairmen who want to revert to virtual meetings, she is reminding them of the additional legal notification requirements.

Day Staff Writers Claire Bessette, Greg Smith, Johana Vazquez and Joe Wojtas contributed to this report.

k.drelich@theday.com