Recommendations and Protocols for East Hampton Town Beaches Opening, in Response to COVID- 19 May 18, 2020
East Hampton Town Beach, Parks and Recreation Recovery & Advisory Group • • • • • • • •
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Councilman: David Lys East Hampton Park & Recreation Department Head: John Rooney East Hampton Buildings & Grounds Department Head: Anthony Littman East Hampton Marine Patrol Chief: Ed Michels East Hampton Town Chief Life Guard: John Ryan Jr. East Hampton Town Buildings & Grounds Dept. Crew Leader: Severo Kristofich East Hampton Town Trustees: Francis Bock and James Grimes Also, in advisory capacity: • • • • • • • •
Michael Sarlo, East Hampton Town Police Chief Jeff Thompson, 1st Asst, Chief EHT Life Guards Chris Cinque, 2nd Asst. Chief EHT Life Guards John Ryan Sr., Lifeguard Program Coordinator Robert Pucci, Chief of East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue Bruce Polsky, MD, MACP, FIDSA Villian Mosley, East Hampton Town Buildings & Grounds Dept Crew Leader Jim Terry, East Hampton Town Buildings & Grounds Crew Dept Master Plumber
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Mission In Response to the unprecedented world wide health emergency and the March 13th declared state of emergency for the Town of East Hampton, the above mentioned advisory group was convened upon request of the Town Council to consider use of the townships beaches, parks and recreational areas in light of the COVID 19 Virus and make recommendations on safe use of public bathing beaches during lifeguarded and recreational facilities open hours.
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Local, County and State Coordination • First remote meeting of EH Town Advisory Committee held April 18th, 2020 • Recommendations sent to the Town Board for review on May 12, 2020
• Suffolk County Beaches Advisory Committee • • • •
Chaired by Peter Scully: Head of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services Supervisor Peter VanScoyoc selected to represent the East End and East Hampton Town First remote meeting was held April 29th , 2020 First draft guidance received on May 1st, 2020
• Long Island Supervisors Beach Advisory Council • Multiple remote meetings held • Direct input to the County executive Steve Bellone • Direct Input to State Governor Andrew Cuomo
• May 13, 2020 Discussion held with Lisa Santeramo, Long Island Director of Operations to Governor Andrew Cuomo, about Suffolk and Nassau Counties Supervisors Bathing Beach Protocol Recommendations
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Recommendations For Guarded Beach Operations • It is the recommendation of the EHT advisory committee, to open a limited number of public bathing beaches on the schedule referenced in a coordinated effort with the Township of Southampton and the Village of East Hampton. It is the determination of the group that by doing so will assist in preventing a waterborne tragedy and allow for individuals to swim at a guarded safe location instead of driving individuals to swim at a unregulated and non-guarded location. • The recommendations of the advisory council is to immediately hire the required number of certified lifeguards to maintain a safe bathing facility as done in years past. • Also, to execute the recommendations in a safe and effective manner, the towns recreation department, town lifeguards and towns buildings and grounds staff will work in coordination to effectively execute the plans attached. 5
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Recommendations For Guarded Beach Operations • The East Hampton Town Recreation Department is preparing for opening at the following locations, starting on Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, May 23), for weekends only, until mid-June, or other wise directed by the town council. • Beaches to be opened on May 23rd and their hours of lifeguard protection.
Ocean, 9-5pm – (weekends only) Indian Wells • Ocean, 9-5pm - (weekends only) Atlantic Ave • Ocean, 9-5pm - (weekends only) South Edison • Ocean, 9-5pm - (weekends only) Ditch Plains •
• Big Albert (Bay), Maidstone (Bay), Gin Beach (Bay), and Motel Row from Kirk to a South Edison (Ocean) would open fully as of June 20. • This is subject to change as needed or determined to be in line with a regional delayed basis.
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EHT Lifeguard Protocols • Lifeguards will be ready to be utilized beyond their normal duties to help manage public awareness and patrols at locations and entrances beyond the swim beaches. • Lifeguards scope of work could be adapted to include the overseeing of the crowd control and compliance of social distancing at the towns public bathing beaches comfort stations. • Lifeguard's Chain of command to be use to communicate between Lifeguards, Ocean Rescue, Marine Patrol and Town Officials • East Hampton Town Lifeguards could also utilize the three trucks, and two ATV Side by Sides to also assist in the following • providing back up and relief to guards in remote areas
• Montauk and Amagansett Jet Skis could be stationed and stand ready in the event of an emergency. • New “syllabus” for life guard certifications to be sent to the state for approval • Outreach to the public in areas where homes have direct access through home owner associations and private clubs or resorts • Develop a webinar for all staff members to review on social distancing protocols and procedures • Designed public outreach and patrol to bring awareness to all unprotected beaches. 7
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Developed Safety Guidelines for EHT Lifeguards • Developed safe rescue procedures that focus on scenarios to train and prepare for rescues by keeping a distance. • In addition to the required season Inservice Training all EHT Lifeguard COVID-19 Training will be added • • • •
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Training Bloodborne Pathogens Training Risk Assessment: G-A-R Model Training COVID-19 Guidelines Training
• Lifeguards working together will adhere to the same standards set for the by the beach opening regulations and employee policies • Social distancing • Facial covering • Hygiene
• Lifeguard PPE • • • •
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N95 mask and face covering gaiters gloves eye protection provide each stand with a hand washing station, soap, and hand sanitizer.
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Proposed Beach Rules • All individuals not in a family dynamic MUST stay 6’ apart • All users of the town facility MUST wear a face covering in the: • Parking areas • Comfort stations • When 6’ of separation is not maintainable • No Gathering of Groups • No Contact Sports • No sunbathing within 20’ south of the beach grass line • Specific proposals for each beach including signage and social distancing patterns will be available at each beach and on the town website for residents review 9
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Social Distancing Initiatives • It is the recommendation of the advisory committee to initially and adaptably have public bathing beaches sectioned off at the start of each day in designs that would provide for safe and appropriate social distancing.
• No individuals are allowed to sunbathe or lay associated materials on the sand a minimum of 20’ feet seaward to the beach grass line • This is currently the policy to provide a safe area of travel for enforcement • Would also allow of a safe egress point for individuals on the beach
• Removal of parking capacity in targeted locations • Addition of designated Loading and Unloading Zones • Entrance and exit to the beach are separated to provide a safe flow of traffic on and off the beach • I.e. Where allowable west/right side of beach head if for entry to the beach and east/left side is for exit of the beach • Add signage to delineate the egress points at tights access points
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Add a footer
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New Signage to be Placed at the Town’s Beach Access Points
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5/18/2020
Comfort Station Protocols • These Protocols outline the new procedures the Building & Grounds and Parks Department will follow in reference to the opening and sanitizing of Comfort Stations. These procedures will help the public and employees have a safer restroom facility. • Once available for public use, bathrooms will remain locked at nighttime and only opened during predefined hours listed on sign outside of comfort station. • Facility will be closed to public use during cleaning procedure. A pole barricade will be placed horizontally in doorway stating “Closed for Cleaning”. • Cleaning will be done with face mask, and gloves. Solution used for cleaning will be an antiviral solution of 3M TB Quat Disinfectant. Entire facility will be sanitized multiple times a day
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Comfort Station Protocols • Signage at each location will specify rules for utilization of comfort station, including: social distancing while on line, one occupant at a time in facility, washing hands for 20 sec. before and after using facility • Use of an outside contractor will continue to be explored for additional cleaning needs • Showers and foot wash stations should remain open but with social distancing markers and signage installed. • These locations equipment will also be cleaned on a regular basis • COMFORT STATION REGULATIONS • Face Coverings are required by all using the town facility • Only one person at a time is allowed to used each facility • Users must practice social distancing • Users are required to wash their hands after use
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5/18/2020
2020 Beach Operating Permits • John Rooney, Supervisor of Town of East Hampton Parks Department has filed with the County Health Department for a Beach operating Permit and filed an updated Safety Plan. That plan will continually be amended for measures to handle COVID-19 recommendations. We will be working closely with Nancy Pierson, Senior Public Health Sanitarian, Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services, Division of Environmental Quality Suffolk County Parks Department. • These will be a collaboration of standards that will be recommended by all Suffolk County Lifeguard Chiefs. • The modifications below are to append to and supersede SOP’s and protocols outlined in the Town of East Hampton Safety Plan and Guidelines for the Operation of its Public Bathing Facilities.
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5/18/2020
2020 Issued Beach Operating Permit
• Effective May 15th, 2020, East Hampton Town was granted permission to operate all of its guarded beaches in compliance with the provisions of Subpart 6-2 of the State Sanitary Code by Gregson Pigott, Md of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services.
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Coordinated Enforcement Efforts • East Hampton Town Police Department
• East Hampton Town Marine Patrol • East Hampton Town Code Enforcement • East Hampton Town Lifeguards • East Hampton Town Recreation Department Staff
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5/18/2020
Capacity Decrease Methods • No issuance of Non-Resident Beach Parking Permits until further notice • Decrease of amount of parking spots in town beach parking areas • Installment of No Parking along many unrestricted streets in the
downtown Montauk areas • Phased in approach to bathing capacity • Sequential opening of bathing beaches
• Staged increase in total area of guarded bathing
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5/18/2020
Future Roles of the Advisory Committee • Committee will reconvene immediately following the Memorial Day Weekend
• Committee will convene on a Bi-weekly basis or as needed, to discuss the town guarded beach protocols in response to the previous weeks usage findings • If there is a marked increase in infection rates, or broad issues with public
guidelines at beaches and parks at some point in the summer season, the Town task force will assist and coordinate responses accordingly that could include the possible closure of facilities and activities to ensure consistent
public safety across the entire township.
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