Aberdeen officials issue proclamation for local emergency

ABERDEEN–In a move to safeguard citizens during the Covid-19 crisis, Aberdeen Township’s mayor and Township Council will enforce the provisions listed in Gov. Phil Murphy’s Executive Order No. 104.

Under a Proclamation of Local Disaster Emergency issued on March 16 by the council and signed by Mayor Fred Tagliarini and Emergency Management Coordinator/Chief of Police Richard Derechailo, the township adopted the following rules from the state:

1. All gatherings will be limited to 50 persons or fewer, with limited exceptions;
2. All public, private and parochial preschool programs, elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools, will be closed beginning March 18, and remain closed as long as the order remains in effect;
3. Institutions of higher education will cease all in-person instruction beginning on March 18, and will cease such in-person instruction as long as the Order remains in effect;
4. The New Jersey Commissioner of Education will continue working with each public, private and parochial school to ensure students are able to continue their education through appropriate home instruction.
5. The Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Education shall take all necessary actions to ensure that all students who are eligible for free or reduced meals will continue to receive the services necessary to meet nutritional needs during closures;
6. All casinos, concert venues, nightclubs, racetracks, gyms, fitness centers and classes, movie theaters and performing arts centers will be closed to the public beginning last night at 8 p.m. and remain closed as long as this order remains in effect;
7. All other non-essential retail, recreational and entertainment businesses must cease daily operations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.; and
8. All restaurant establishments, with or without a liquor license or limited brewery license, are limited to offering delivery and/or take out services only.
9. Essential businesses, which are necessary for the public’s health, safety and welfare – like supermarkets and grocery stores, pharmacies, medical offices and gas stations – may remain open past 8 p.m.
10. Effective 8 p.m. last night, all non-essential and non-emergency travel in New Jersey is strongly discouraged between the hours of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

“We thank all Aberdeen residents and businesses and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this difficult time,” said Mayor Tagliarini, in a joint prepared statement with Chief Derechailo. “Our hope is that if we follow these guidelines we will get through this emergency as smoothly as possible.”

For more information and updates visit www.aberdeennj.org.

Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.