WHATELY — The Selectboard has approved a limited reopening of the Town Offices to the public starting Monday.
The front service window will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Town Administrator Brian Domina said Wednesday he expects to have a Plexiglas window installed at the front desk before the building on Sandy Lane reopens to the public.
“The biggest concern there was, even if you’re wearing masks … if someone’s right up against the window, I don’t think that’s 6 feet,” he said. “I’d much rather a solid barrier there.”
Only one party — or group of individuals within the same household — will be allowed in the foyer of the Town Offices. Others will be asked to line up in a socially distant manner outside the building.
The assessor’s office and town administrator’s office, as well as the Highway Department, Fire Department and Water Department, will be available by appointment only.
The Police Department will be open for regular hours, according to the updated policy, but it is recommended that residents call or email to set up an appointment before going to the station.
Facial coverings will be required for anyone in town buildings, barring those with medical exemptions. If a person cannot wear a mask, officials ask they call in advance of arriving to the building.
The board also approved on Wednesday an updated directive that allows employees to return to the Town Offices, splitting their hours between in-person and remote work to reduce the number of people in the building.
The decision to update directives, which closed town buildings to the public in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed a discussion between Domina and Selectboard members.
Selectboard member Jonathan Edwards initially questioned whether town employees were ready to return to in-person work.
“I want to make sure that they’re comfortable,” Edwards said. “I don’t want anyone to think this public health crisis is over, because it’s clearly not.”
Chair Joyce Palmer-Fortune said employees will work out hours with their respective supervisors.
Town Clerk Lynn Sibley noted it was necessary for her to return to the offices to carry out election-related work.
Employees, as they return to the Town Offices, must wear masks in the building and in any situation where social distancing isn’t possible, and are encouraged to practice frequent hand-washing.
Domina also said on Wednesday that public meetings will not yet resume to in-person format.
“I’m not eager to jump to in-person meetings,” he said, noting the health risk as well as limits on gathering size that could prevent meetings from being held if too many audience members show up.
Palmer-Fortune agreed it is “completely reasonable” to delay reinstating in-person public meetings.
“We have another option,” she said, acknowledging the adjustment to hosting virtual meetings. “It seems to be a reasonable means for getting business done.”