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Allegany County drops COVID-19 leave for public safety staff
By BOB CLARK BELMONT — Allegany County officials hope that opting out of a federal law letting public safety workers take time off due to coronavirus-related family issues will make the community safer during the pandemic. By a 14-1 vote, the Allegany County Board of Legislators voted to exempt public safety employees — including sheriff’s deputies, fire investigators and 911 center workers — from taking paid leave to care for children out of school or to care for sick family members under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, approved March 18. Brooks Harris, R-Alfred, voted against the resolution. In a memorandum of expla-
WELLSVILLE — In partnership with seamstresses who have sewn facemasks and donated them to the hospital, the Jones Memorial Hospital Community Wellness Committee is supplying the cashiers at two Wellsville grocery stores — Tops Friendly Market and Giant Food Mart — with homemade face masks. Save-a-Lot in Wellsville was also offered masks but their staff already has a supply from a donor of their own. “These workers are
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nation, County Administrator Carissa Knapp noted that the personnel office has requested that the resolution be put in place to best serve the public. “These personnel are essential in providing critical public health and safety emergency services to our residence and need to be available for work to the extent possible,” she wrote. Under the federal law, in addition to mandated sick time for those recovering from the disease, the act also provides up to 80 hours of paid sick leave at two-thirds salary to care for ill family members or to care for a child whose school or childcare provider is closed due to the disease. Up to 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds pay is also available for taking care of a child.
However, the law allows employers of health care professionals or first responders to elect to exclude such employees. Officials reported that the exemption makes sense as the state approaches what is hoped to be the peak of the virus. “These are strange times and difficult times, and everyone is having to make adjustments and accommodations,” said Chairman Curt Crandall, RBelfast. “The last several days have been especially difficult for New Yorkers, as the death tolls have skyrocketed across New York State. Each death represents a person — not just a number.” Monday night, Crandall extended the county’s state of emergency, originally declared March 14, because of the pan-
demic. “Allegany County currently has had numerous cases of COVID-19 to date, and the situation is rapidly evolving, and the threat of this virus is imminent to the citizens and visitors of Allegany County,” Crandall’s declaration stated. “It is necessary that Allegany County be proactive and fully prepared to deal with its effects.” Allegany County had 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of earlier this week; there were 45 residents under quarantine/ isolation. One death has been reported in the county so far as the result of COVID-19. IN OTHER BUSINESS, Crandall declared this week as Public Safety Telecommunications Week. “The timing of this cert couldn’t be more prevalent that
with what we’ve been going through lately,” Crandall said, noting the rise in coronavirusrelated calls in the county. Reading a report from Sheriff Rick Whitney, Crandall noted there were more than 83,000 calls to the 911 center in Belmont in 2019, with more than 47,000 incident reports filed. The office handles calls for the county sheriff’s office, the New York State Police, town and village police forces, the county Office of Emergency Services, the SPCA Serving Allegany County, and the volunteer fire and emergency medical services companies across the county. “The dispatch at AC E-911 Center are a team of highlytrained and dedicated professionals who are ready to respond,” Whitney wrote.
A partnership for community wellness: JMH and local seamstresses
Giant Food Mart in Wellsville received homemade face masks from the Jones Memorial Hospital Community Wellness Committee.
an essential workforce with many public contacts each day,” said
Eva Benedict, CEO at Jones. “Shoppers who wear masks are tak-
ing an extra precaution to protect themselves and the workers at our
Cuba • Wellsville Special Orders Call:
Visit Us At: www.giantfoodmart.com
Wellsville: 593-Deli (3354) Cuba: 968-Beef (2333)
local grocery stores. I encourage everyone who goes out in public
to wear a mask.” Jones Memorial will also provide the homemade face masks to designated at-risk hospital patients at the time of discharge. Thanks to the community, the hospital has an adequate supply of medical-grade masks for its staff for now, but Jones is still accepting donations of homemade masks in the event supplies run low “for employees and to continue to be able to assure the essential workforce in our community has protection as well.”
Spring Savings In Every Aisle!
Sale Starts Sunday April 19,2020
During these challenging times, to better benefit the elders and those who may be at high risk in our community, Giant Food Mart will be opening one hour earlier on Tuesdays and Thursdays until further notice. Following the guidelines of our 5% Tuesday discount, customers 55 years young or over, or those at high risk will be able to shop every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 6:00 am until 7:30 am.