Over the past several days, Gov. Murphy issued a number of executive orders impacting construction, retail businesses, car gatherings, beaches & boardwalks, the primary election & other recreational facilities. See below for more details.
As new infection and hospitalization rates associated with the COVID-19 outbreak in NJ continue to decline, Governor Murphy has issued a series of Executive Orders over the course of the last week that have begun to permit activities that had been restricted by previous executive orders. These reintroduced activities allow for certain political, business, and recreational activities.
Executive Order No. 142
Non-Essential Construction:
The Order permits non-essential construction projects to resume effective at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18. All construction projects must abide by the social distancing, safety, and sanitization requirements that are described in detail in the Governor’s Executive Order.
Curbside Pickup at Non-Essential Retail Businesses:
The Order also permits non-essential retail businesses to allow curbside pickup of goods, beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, but businesses must continue to have their in-store operations closed to customers. Businesses who choose to offer curbside pickup must abide by the requirements in the Order, which include but are not limited to the following:
- In-store operations should be limited to those employees who are responsible for the operations required for curbside pickup;
- Customer transactions should be handled in advance by phone, email, facsimile or other means that avoid person-to-person contact;
- Customers shall notify the retailer by text message, email, or phone once they arrive, or make best efforts to schedule their arrival time in advance. The customer should be asked to remain in their vehicle, if arriving by car, until store staff delivers the purchase;
- Designated employees should bring goods outside of the retail establishment and place goods directly in a customer’s vehicle when possible, avoiding person-to-person contact; and
- Such businesses must follow social distancing and mitigation practices outlined in previous orders, including requiring workers to wear cloth face coverings when in contact with other workers or customers and gloves when in contact with goods or customers.
Car Gatherings:
The Order states that car gatherings do not violate the Governor’s ban on gatherings under Executive Order No. 107. Examples of such car gatherings include but are not limited to drive-in movies, religious services, or drive-through farms or safaris. Car gatherings will be subject to the restrictions in the Order, which include but are not limited to the following:
- Attendees must remain in their same car throughout the gathering, unless 1) an occupant needs to get out of the vehicle for their health or safety or 2) an occupant needs to use the restroom;
- The vehicle must remain closed at all times unless 1) there is six feet of distance between other vehicles or individuals or 2) an officer, public official or guard requires the vehicle to open. There is a further exception allowing the opening of the vehicle if necessary for health or safety;
- Individuals organizing the gathering who are not in vehicles must follow social distancing and wear cloth face coverings; and
- To the degree that a gathering requires pre-payment, or seeks donations of any kind, contactless options for pre-payment or donation, such as online or by telephone, must be offered wherever feasible.
- Retail businesses operating in shopping malls are permitted to operate by curbside pickup, in accordance with the other requirements of this paragraph, but staff must bring the goods to customers at the exterior of the mall. The indoor portions of shopping malls must remain closed, as required by the Governor’s previous orders.
Executive Order No. 143
Beaches, Boardwalks, Lakes, and Lakeshores permitted effective just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, beginning May 22nd. Restrictions to certain procedures, activities and services will be in place.
Policies must be implemented that require social distancing, limit physical interaction, limit capacity or occupancy, require disinfection, hand hygiene, use of cloth face masks when appropriate, adjustments to infrastructure and other protections, as set forth in the specific Executive Orders.
As of the date of this posting the Township of Pequannock is working to prepare PV Park to open as soon as possible. Based on the requirements of the various orders, necessary changes are anticipated to be discussed with the Township Council at the regular meeting of the Council on May 26, 2020.
Executive Order No. 144
A modified vote-by-mail election will be conducted for the upcoming July 7th Primary.
All elections that take place on July 7, 2020, shall be conducted primarily via vote-by-mail ballots, which will automatically be sent to all “Active” registered Democratic and Republican voters without the need for an application to receive a vote-by-mail ballot.
The County Clerk shall send vote-by-mail applications to “Active” voters who are registered as “Unaffiliated,” and to all “Inactive” registered Democrats, Republicans, and “Unaffiliated” voters. To provide “Unaffiliated” voters, "Inactive" registered Democrats, and "Inactive" registered Republicans every opportunity to return a vote-by-mail application and receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the July 7, 2020 Primary Election, the deadline for returning a vote-by-mail application in person in N.J.S.A. 19:63-3(d) shall be suspended.
Executive Order 146 and Executive Order 147
These orders authorize certain outdoor activities at recreational facilities and businesses, effective just in time for Memorial Day Weekend, beginning May 22nd. Restrictions to certain procedures, activities and services will be in place. Policies must be implemented that require social distancing, limit physical interaction, limit capacity or occupancy, require disinfection, hand hygiene, use of cloth face masks when appropriate, adjustments to infrastructure and other protections, as set forth in the specific Executive Orders.
- Beaches, Boardwalks, Lakes, and Lakeshores (EO 143)
- Charter fishing services and for-hire vessels (EO 146)
- Archery ranges (EO 147)
- Batting cages (EO 147)
- Golf driving ranges (EO 147)
- Horseback riding (EO 147)
- Shooting ranges (EO 147)
- Tennis clubs (EO 147)
- Community gardens (EO 147)
It is important to understand that Coronavirus COVID-19 is in many communities across the State including the Township of Pequannock. Direction provided by the Federal and State Governments is to assume that anyone with whom you come into direct contact is potentially infected with the virus. Therefore, a maximum effort must be made by all citizens to exercise social distancing and follow the other important practices that are proven to slow the transmission of the disease. These practices are as follows:
- Remain home when possible
- Practice Social Distancing, staying 6 feet or further away from all you come in contact with
- Wash your hands frequently, using soap and water for 20 seconds or more. If soap and water is not available, use hand sanitizer but please make sure it is at least 60% alcohol or more.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then immediately throw it into the garbage or cough or sneeze into your elbow.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
- When engaging in business and recreational activities permitted by the executive orders, please adhere to all guidelines set forth in the specific EOs
By following these practices, we can all play an important part in better protecting our friends, family and our entire communities.
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