June 2, 2020

Capitol Update 6.1.2020

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope the message finds you well, and that you and your families are healthy and safe. During these difficult times many in our community have had their lives upended and others are mourning the loss of loved ones. The last book written by Dr. Martin Luther King was titled, “Where Do We Go from Here, Chaos or Community?” I think the answer is clear and it’s up to us. It has been inspiring to see how so many in our towns and neighborhoods have come together to support each other during the coronavirus outbreak. As we move forward, let us continue work in this spirit of community.

Sincerely,

Irene Haines

House Republicans Call for Special Session

The House Republican caucus last Wednesday announced that its members would be petitioning for a special session of the House to address the growing state budget deficit, allocate federal relief funding and review Governor Lamont’s emergency executive orders. There has been growing concern in recent weeks about the lack of transparency and legislative input as the administration has proceeded with its reopening strategy. The special session would seek to address these concerns and ensure the legislature is able to act on critical issues ahead of the September 9^th expiration of the governor’s emergency declaration.

In order to call the House into a special session, a majority of members must agree, effectively requiring House Democrats to join with Republicans. Read More

Road Map for Reopening

During a press conference last week, Governor Lamont released a “Roadmap for Reopening Connecticut” document with details on Phases 2 & 3 of the state’s reopening strategy, as well as a progress report on the state’s reopening criteria (e.g. testing capacity, Personal Protective Equipment availability, etc.). Read More

Reopening Barbershops

Governor Lamont announced on Friday a new executive order that would allow for barbershops and hair salons to begin operations on June 1st. Businesses planning on reopening will be required to follow strict cleaning and social distancing protocols. Guidance on how to safely reopen is available online at the Department of Economic and Community Development website. ct.gov/DECD

Reopening Houses of Worship

Governor Lamont announced loosened restrictions on public gatherings and outlined limits for religious gatherings. Effective June 1^st, limits on religious gatherings are raised to 25 percent of capacity of the indoor space or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is smaller, and to 150 people for outdoor gatherings. Social distancing and safety measures must be followed. Guidelines for houses of worship are available online at the Department of Economic and Community Development. ct.gov/DECD

Testing Availability

Healthcare providers across the state have worked hard to increase our coronavirus testing capacity. The state launched an online resource page to help residents locate testing locations and answer common questions regarding who should get tested. ct.gov/Coronavirus

Milling and Resurfacing on RT 156

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that a milling and paving project will be performed on Route 156 in East Haddam, Lyme and Old Lyme.

The project consists of milling a 8.44 mile segment of Route 156 in East Haddam, Lyme and Old Lyme. The roadway milling for this project is scheduled for Monday, June 8, 2020, through Tuesday, June 30, 2020. The roadway paving for this project is scheduled for Tuesday July 7, 2020 through Wednesday July 31, 2020.

This project is included in the Department of Transportation’s 2020 Vendor Resurfacing Program.

LANE CLOSURE INFO:

Motorists can expect lane closures to occur on Route 156 from Route 82 in East Haddam through Lyme to Route 1 in Old Lyme. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. The regular work schedule for this project is from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday – Friday).

Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity.