NASHUA – City officials are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by limiting government activities and closing Nashua City Hall to the public.

During a special Board of Aldermen meeting Monday night, board members passed a policy and resolution brought forward by Mayor Jim Donchess to respond to the crisis. With one positive case already confirmed in the city, the policy Donchess proposed closes City Hall and other city buildings over which the BOA and mayor exercise jurisdiction, to the public and to institute such substitute access to city services as Donchess deems appropriate. The mayor is authorized to determine which employees will be urged to remain home, work from home, be on-call or continue working. This closure goes into effect Wednesday.

On Friday, non-essential city employees, as directed by their supervisors, will be working from home. However, essential functions such as police, fire, trash collection and recycling, bus service and the operation of the city’s wastewater treatment plant will continue.

In addition, Donchess announced that city employees are prohibited until further notice from all out-of-state travel. Officials also discourage public gatherings of more than 25 people.

On March 23, all but essential employees will be asked to remain home until further notice, and plans are underway for some employees to be able to work remotely. These policies will remain in effect until at least April 3.

A resolution also was passed Monday night to transfer additional funds to help support the effort. This comes on top of the $50,000 transfer previously approved from the General Contingency into the Risk Management Property and Casualty Fund.

Resolution 20-024 transfers an additional $100,000 from debt service interest expense for the funding of purchases related to COVID-19. It also authorizes a contribution of $5,000 to United Way’s “Urgent Needs Community Fund,” which has been established to support local nonprofits who experience extraordinary expenses related to the pandemic.

More information and details on the steps the city is taking to combat the spread of COVID-19 will appear in Wednesday’s edition of The Telegraph and online at www.nashuatelegraph.com.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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