Masks are a drag.....but the virus is much worse!

Greetings, People of Lawrence!

Ok, moving right along....

As all of you may know, the municipal building is open to the public to conduct business with our various departments. Since the Pandemic still exists, we require that all persons wear masks while in the common areas of the building.  We are doing this because (1) people are still getting the virus, (2) people are still being hospitalized (and some are dying), (3) people are still unvaccinated, and (4) people who are vaccinated are still susceptible to getting the virus and passing it on to others.  We are 22 months into this Pandemic, and we should all be well informed of the standard safeguards being implemented to protect the health and safety of OTHERS.

From time to time, our attendee at the reception desk is met with displeased visitors who do not wish to wear a mask. Not wanting to wear a mask is ok. We have a locked box outside the North Entrance (with an envelope and pen station) where one can deposit their tax payments or other forms to whatever department they are conducting business with so they don't have to enter the building and wear a mask.   If a visitor needs to discuss and issue with a staff member, that discussion can be by phone, or the staff member will meet the visitor outside the North Entrance to have the conversation (at a safe distance). Easy peasy….we can accommodate you if you do not want to wear a mask. 

Yesterday, our attendee at the reception desk was rebuked by a visitor who refused to wear a mask and proceeded into the building, failing to stop as requested.  He continued to his destination in the building because "he was a taxpayer" and "requiring a mask violates his rights." Both reasons are wrong and unacceptable. The masking requirement is not up for discussion and is not optional. It applies to all who enter the building.  The purpose is to protect those that are in the building working or visiting.

As I have said many times before, the municipal services we provide are far different from those provided at retail establishments (i.e., restaurants, stores, etc.).  If a retail establishment must close down because its employees become sick or must quarantine, you can take your business, most likely right down the street, to another similar establishment.  If our staff become ill or must quarantine, which requires the building to close, you cannot go down the street and obtain whatever service you were receiving from our municipal offices.  We provide the residents, property owners, and businesses with essential services that other offices do not duplicate.  As a result, we must take the reasonable and necessary precaution to have masks worn (and temperatures taken) to keep us open and operating.     

Please, please be respectful of others and of the municipal staff that provides services to our community. Even if you don't think masks work or the requirement is stupid and violates your rights......Just know that we will continue to follow the established science that proves masks do limit the virus from spreading, and we all want to keep our work environment safe and healthy for ourselves, family, and friends (that we return home to).  While you are at it, show the same respect and concern for the private businesses that require masks to be worn.  They are doing it to protect their employees and customers---to keep their stores open so their employees can work and earn a living and pay their bills.  You know, the ol' pursuit of the American dream thing!  

Wearing a mask for the brief period you are in a building should not and is not too much to ask.  No one wants to wear a mask, but sometimes in life, there are challenges that we all must face together....for the good of everyone. We are in the midst of a public health crisis, not a political dispute.

Stay Positive, test Negative!

Peace and love... Peace and love.... 

Lawrence Township's Grant Matrix for October 2021

       For those that are interested in the Township's efforts in obtaining grant funds to support our various projects, you will find our up-to-date October 2021 Grant Matrix here:

Grant Matrix October 2021.pdf(Review)- Adobe Document Cloud

       As always, thank you to our municipal engineer, Brenda Kraemer, for spearheading our grant program and putting this together to keep us all informed about our grant game!

Further thoughts on the decision to vaccinate to help fight against the virus......

Good Morning People of Lawrence!!!!

This post reflects my personal opinion on vaccinations. If you have no interest in my opinion....please just move on..... I am aware of my detractors and, as a result, I am not posting this on any of our community FB pages (just on my own FB timeline).

Ok....let's get to some business. As some of you may know, I have been hesitant to personally appeal or encourage anyone to get vaccinated. I just don't think I have the background and expertise to prompt anyone to inject the vaccine into their bodies. Having said that, I have also been clear that I rely on trusted sources for my information to make decisions for myself and to keep Township employees as safe as I can while meeting our mandate to serve our community. The Mayo Clinic website is where I go daily to keep informed. For those that do not trust the government or are bent towards conspiracy theories (and seek something different), this source may be for you. To find out more about it: https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic

It is a world-respected, non-profit medical treatment and research institute, and during this pandemic, is a valued source of current and trusted information. As with any hospital providing treatment, you will find negative reviews from patients if you do a search, but my focus is on its medical research......which is unquestionably respected.

For those that are unvaccinated, please take some time to view this site: https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/why-get-vaccinated.

I understand everyone has an opinion on this topic. Tragically, some have allowed politics to enter into our fight against a world health pandemic. And it is "our" fight because our actions impact the health and safety of others.

The one and only fact that really resonates with me right now is that more than 90% of the covid-related hospitalizations and deaths are for the unvaccinated. Some will say that is their choice and they will suffer the consequences. But that falls well short of common sense. When our hospitals are filled with unvaccinated people, using our medical resources (human resources, testing resources, and treatment resources), it jeopardizes the health and treatment of those who require hospitalizations for medical conditions unrelated to the virus.

I simply can't imagine the mindset of the doctors, nurses, and all those providing comfort and care to the unvaccinated knowing that science has produced a vaccine to help fight this virus. Yet people are still being hospitalized, ventilated, and at times, tragically dying, when it most likely was avoidable if only they trusted enough to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated.

I hear people all the time say that they have done their research on this topic, and they have decided that the vaccine is not for them. Fair enough.....but where did they do their "research?" There are too many sites available on the internet where you can go to find the answer that supports where you want to "land" on this issue. That can prove to be a tragic mistake....and it has for many already. I suggest you direct your "research" to objectively (non-political) trusted sources of science-based information. If you still say "no" to the vaccine.... you have then made an informed decision and no one can fault you. The decisions we make on this issue are not personal, they affect others. The responsibility extends beyond the individual. Good luck!

Peace and love.... Peace and Love!

Shelter from the Storm: Ida and Our Response

 

"Now there's a wall between us, 

somethin' there's been lost

I took too much for granted, 

I got my signals crossed

Just to think that it all began on an uneventful morn

Come in, she said I'll give ya

shelter from the storm."

 (B. Dylan "Shelter from the Storm") 

            Clearly, if given a chance to quote from a Bob Dylan song, I will do it.  Also, if allowed to shine some light and love on the employees and volunteers who work for our community in the most challenging circumstances, I will do that too.   Hurricane Ida trampled through our town in a way that past storms have not in a good long while.    The winds and the flooding did extensive damage, and while most of us were sheltering in place, our firefighters, emergency medical technicians, police officers, and public works employees were out in the thick of it doing what was necessary to protect life and property.  This article is a public and collective "Thank you" to them.

             Most of our residents did not see, first hand, the flooding that occurred in our Route 1 corridor.  When I did, after the winds and rains subsided, I was left speechless thinking about what was happening when we were all safely in our homes, and these men and women were out doing their jobs.   As is a matter of routine, I receive updates from our Director of Fire and Emergency Services.  But for this storm, I wanted the details of our response to get a better sense of it and asked Jack to provide me with a report.  Instead of summarizing, I will share it with you in total:

 "Re:  TD Ida Calls for Service

 The Lawrence Township Emergency Services stood up an operational period in response to Tropical Storm IDA commencing at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, until 4:00 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2021.  During that period, the following incidents occurred:

50 Water Evacuations/Swiftwater Rescues

This included all persons trapped by surging floodwaters in cars, homes, and land with isolated opportunities for movement.  The hotels/motels (Sleepy Hollow, Mounts, Motel 6) were also evacuated due to flooding, and there were over 100 persons placed in various shelters.  Of note was the swift water rescue of a Hopewell Township Police Officer conducted by the Lawrenceville Fire Company members while supplying mutual aid to Hopewell Township.  This officer entered the swift-moving waters of the Stoney Brook to attempt to rescue a stranded motorist and became a victim himself.  The stranded motorist was tragically swept away in the waters and killed.

20 Fire response related incidents

These responses were for investigation of water conditions in homes, fire/CO alarm activations, arcing wires, and a working fire in the Sleepy Hollow Motel discovered during the evacuation of the patrons.

The Career Fire and EMS staff and members from Stations 21, 22, and 23 (approximately 30 members total) provided the coverage and responses during the operational period.  No injuries or deaths were reported in Lawrence during this time.  An estimate of person-hours is difficult to determine at this time. However, I'm sure given the number of incidents and responders present, the number will easily eclipse 13,000 hours.

The performance by the men and women of the Lawrence Township Emergency Services was exemplary and nothing short of heroic.  They should be commended for their actions during this extremely difficult and dangerous storm. Respectfully, Jack Oakley, Director."

            The report by Jack speaks for itself.  It was simply no less than outstanding work by all involved.   When I met with the department heads this week, we discussed the storm and our response.  I must say that our Public Works Director, Greg Whitehead, made sure to commend and make known to all of his staff's hard work during the storm.  In addition to the post-storm clean-up response, our Public Works facility was completely flooded.  This required our employees to respond by taking all actions necessary to minimize the damage done to the building and the equipment during the storm and after.  More so than any other, these employees take abuse from some demanding and unreasonable residents daily, so the opportunity to praise them publicly needs to be done.  On behalf of a grateful community, its elected officials, and me, THANK YOU! 

A follow up to my last article....Covid 19 and the unvaccinated.

Just a brief follow-up on my last article about Covid-19, the data that supports vaccination, and the concerns about the delta variant that research shows is more contagious and causes more severe illness. 

Removing myself from interacting with residents on the various FB pages has in many respects been liberating, but it is also a source of incredible frustration.   Though the number of negative comments between residents has reduced from posts I created, there are times that I find it challenging to allow misinformation to go unrefuted or provide context to decisions made by the municipal government. But we all have our challenges in life!  I remind everyone if they have a question or a concern, please feel free to email me at knerwinski@lawrencetwp.com, and I will do my best to provide a timely response.

My recent article has prompted some on FB to question where I get my information.  As I stated, our Health Officer keeps me informed of current trends in Covid-19 cases.  I also receive daily Covid-19 Situation Reports from the NJ Office of Emergency Management.  But to educate myself on these issues, I have found the Mayo Clinic website to be a great resource.  Its non-profit status (and non-government affiliation) and worldwide reputation as a leading institute for medical treatment and research, to me, make it a trusted source.  (I know full well this will now prompt some to attack the Mayo Clinic….)

For information on the case to vaccinate:   https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/why-get-vaccinated

For information on the delta variant…..which is more contagious and causes more severe illness:  https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-vaccine-urgency-as-delta-variant-continues-to-spread/

Everyone who is frustrated by the changing guidance from public officials over these past 18 months (whether from the CDC, the Governor, or the President) should take a step back and remember that Covid-19 presented as a completely new, more lethal virus than the world had experienced in more than 100 years.  Little was known about it, but as the medical researchers and providers did their outstanding work to gain the knowledge needed to fight its spread and treat the infected, their guidance changed as their understanding of the virus increased over time.  This should not be a source of frustration, and changing guidance should be expected as we continue with this fight. 

As for the change in policy for visitors and employees in our municipal building, things are fluid in a world health pandemic, and the data tells us that we are regressing in our fight against the virus.  Not changing or adapting to the data would be a dereliction of duty to the community and our employees.

EVERYONE (visitor and employee) will be required to wear a mask in the common areas of the building.  This should not be viewed as punishment to anyone.  It is a decision made for the health and safety of all who come into our municipal buildings.  As employees and visitors do their business, they will be socially distanced and separated by plexiglass at the counters --- and both visitor and employee will be masked.  If anyone prefers to continue to conduct their business outside at the North Entrance as we have done successfully and effectively for months, they will be accommodated.  

Covid-19 and the unvaccinated......

Those who are required to monitor the Covid-19 trends within our communities, and those who continue to keep informed about the world health pandemic in general, know and understand that this “thing” we have been going through since March of 2020 is far from over.  Yesterday, the Lawrence Township Health Officer, Keith Levine, came into my office to inform me of his concerns regarding the Delta variant of Covid-19 and its increasing presence in our region of the State.  He also followed up our discussion with data he is privy to as a NJ licensed Health Officer.  

Though many of our residents have chosen to become vaccinated, many have not.   The unvaccinated are now front and center in this pandemic.  They are the ones that are most vulnerable to the virus, and this more lethal strain known as the Delta variant.  The unvaccinated are becoming infected with the virus at a trending higher rate.  The unvaccinated infected with the virus are overwhelmingly the ones in our hospitals fighting for their lives, while the vaccinated who become infected overwhelmingly experience minor symptoms.

     

As I wrote previously, I feel unqualified to defend the efficacy of the vaccines since I am not a scientist or public health official. I have turned to trusted sources of information bypassing the hosts of the various cable and network news programs, to make an informed decision to become vaccinated; to protect myself, my family, and all those who I come in close contact with, and to do my part to stop the spread and mutation of the virus.  

But I do, however, feel a responsibility to share trusted information and facts that may present a pathway for those who have chosen not to be vaccinated (for other than valid medical reasons) to decide to do so.  These are bizarre political times we find ourselves in, and some have allowed their politics to determine their response to a health pandemic that has wreaked havoc across the world ---over boundaries and jurisdictions--because the virus doesn’t care about such things.   We will not climb out of this mess until we all join together to do what needs to be done to fight a health crisis – not a political war. 

The data shows that here in NJ, the vaccines prove to be 99.9% effective against the virus.  For those that test positive after complete vaccination, their cases are overwhelmingly proving to be minor. Of the nearly 32,000 Covid-positive hospital admissions reported between January 19 and July 12, more than 99% have been unvaccinated individuals.   

In his July 26 conference, Governor Murphy stated, “We have the most amount of people in our hospitals with COVID since June 9. Over the past week, the number of confirmed COVID-positive patients in our hospitals increased roughly 30% over two weeks ago. Today, the confirmed number is 357. To give you a sense, last Monday that was 274, and two Mondays ago it was 249. There are also 62 persons under investigation currently hospitalized. The ICU count is 78. That number is also up from last week, up by about 35%, and the number of patients requiring a ventilator is now 33, and that’s up modestly from 29 a week ago. Over the past week, 366 COVID-positive patients entered our hospitals, increasing about 30% from two weeks ago, while 343 were discharged.  The trends we are seeing over the past several days suggest we are not done seeing these numbers continue to rise.”

Based upon this information, the Township is changing its policy and requiring all persons entering our municipal buildings to meet and do “business” with our municipal employees to wear masks – regardless of their vaccination status.  Our employees will be wearing masks when they are not at their workstations or in their offices.   This is necessary so that we can, without interruption, provide the services the community needs, expects, and deserves. 

 

Some will refuse to wear masks, but they will be denied entry into the building.  We will continue to operate as we had in the past by conducting business at the North Entrance of the municipal building and using the black dropbox if your entry is denied because you refuse to wear a mask or it is simply your preference to not enter.  We will continue to have in-person meetings (council, board, and committee) and implement the standard protocols (mask-wearing and social distancing) we have become accustomed to during the pandemic.  

This change will be in effect on August 2, 2021, and will remain until further notice.  

The Pit Stop and beyond....

 

            The demolition of the Pit Stop building today (1175 Lawrence Road) was extremely satisfying to watch as a long-time resident of Lawrence Township.  For several decades the zombie building sat prominently in our community as a symbol of economic blight frustratingly just beyond our reach to address.   But, alas, it is no more.  What happens next, you ask?

            Once the building debris is removed, the land beneath the building is now accessible to test for contamination.  As most of you know, and I described in past blog articles, the property was the site of several gas stations, and, unsurprisingly, the soil was contaminated.  This property was the subject of extensive environmental remediation work years ago, but due to the complicated ownership issues involved, the work stalled at the footprint of the building. 

            We have successfully navigated through the ownership issues and were able to secure grant money from the NJDEP for the razing of the building and further testing even though the Township is NOT the property owner.  As previously explained, the Township will acquire the property (for $1) once it is deemed “clean” by the NJDEP. 

           If the testing reveals contamination in the soil where the building was situated, we will apply for grant money to continue the clean-up.  We do not think it is appropriate for the taxpayers of Lawrence Township to fund the clean-up of this private property even though we stand to become the future owner.  This may take more time to accomplish, but it will allow us to save our money for other projects for which funding is not available or less than we need to make it happen.  The NJDEP has signaled to us that this project is precisely the type that would qualify for assistance for the betterment of the community.  So we push forward.

        Once the property is certified "clean," the title is clear of liens and judgments, and the Township becomes the owner; the deal with the NJDEP is that we create a passive community park on the property.  As for the plans for the park?…..stay tuned!