Gastonia planning on how to continue ’essential services’

Amid all the cancellations and closures sweeping the country due to the coronavirus threat, Gastonia leaders on Tuesday were resolute about the fact that some things must go on.

“We have to provide essential services,” said Deputy City Manager Todd Carpenter. “We know that. But how would we staff that?”

That’s one of the issues being addressed and continually talked about by Gastonia leadership. Carpenter’s comments came during a Tuesday presentation to City Council members on what is being done at the city level to prepare for the pandemic’s intrusions, which seem to be snowballing every day.

One of the main things that Gastonia’s department heads are being told to think about has to do with the continuity of operations, Carpenter said.

“We’re asking them to think through this. How can they work with a skeleton crew,” he said. “Are they thinking about staggered shifts, staggered times? Who are the essential people that have to be here in case this would escalate and get worse?”

Services still in place

The Information Technology department is forming a plan that would allow employee telecommuting, using laptops and other equipment. It’s designed to keep the city’s customer service call centers, municipal operations and other services running, Carpenter said.

Solid waste, recycling and yard waste collection is still running on a regular schedule in Gastonia, and the city is picking up excess household trash for free through Friday, as planned.

“Solid waste employees have been provided with eye protection, special gloves, protective arm sleeves, face masks, hand sanitizer and educational material related to the job they are doing,” Carpenter said.

Construction inspections are continuing, but the city has postponed all non-essential minimum housing inspections that are not considered life-threatening. Utility service disconnections due to nonpayment have been suspended until further notice.

In terms of the Gastonia Transit bus system, things are still running on track. Fliers have been posted on the buses asking riders not to board if they have flu-like systems.

“We are disinfecting and cleaning much more rigorously,” Carpenter said.

Park shelters still being rented

Events at the Gastonia Conference Center have been suspended through March 31, and that will probably be extended soon, Carpenter said. But the city’s parks are remaining open for now, and shelters at those parks can still be rented and used by groups of 49 or less people.

Councilman Dave Kirlin asked for clarification on that policy, and City Manager Michael Peoples said it’s something the city is continuing to assess. A lot of the shelters have already been rented and residents have put deposits down.

“Shelters can also be used first-come first-serve, so we are preserving the rentals to prevent any types of disagreements at the parks for other groups that may want to use the shelters before the rental groups arrive,” Peoples said.

Kirlin also delved into the rationale behind places like the conference center being closed, while parks and shelters are still remaining open for now. A building like the conference center is an enclosed, confined structure with controlled entry and exit points, while a shelter at a park doesn’t meet that description, he said.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to say ‘We’re going to lose this deposit, so therefore we should go ahead and meet,” said Kirlin. “We don’t want to give mixed messages.”

Peoples agreed and said deposits are being refunded for groups that cancel their rentals.

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or on Twitter @GazetteMike.

The Gaston Gazette has lifted the paywall on its website for coverage of the COVID-19 coronavirus, to help readers make critical decisions for themselves and their families.