July 2020 Town of Pelham Newsletter

 

Town of Pelham facilities reopen July 6, 2020

Town of Pelham facilities reopen on Monday, July 6, 2020, following Public Health guidelines, safety standards, and best practices. Pelham’s framework for reopening can be found at www.pelham.ca/covid19. 

When visiting Town facilities, the public will be asked to submit to a standardized screening test including having their temperature taken. Face coverings, when unable to physically distance, are required. Before reopening, a variety of pre-return checks, tasks, and assessments were completed to 

ensure a healthy and safe environment for everyone, including preparing the building with floor stickers for appropriate distancing, preparing staff and their workspaces, controlling access to buildings through screening, reducing touchpoints, and increasing cleaning.

 "We have been working cooperatively with team leaders, staff and outside partners to analyze, prepare and present comprehensive operational procedures which address public health and the Town’s health and safety requirements to open our services,” said Fire Chief and Community Emergency Management Coordinator, Bob Lymburner. “Our work provides clear direction on procedures to provide a safe and comfortable working environment through this pandemic.”

 Visitors to Town Hall will be granted access to the building by appointment only and all meeting rooms will be wiped down and cleaned after each meeting; individual offices will not be used for meetings.  Welcoming guests in this manner ensures the health and safety of Town staff and the public. Residents who wish to make water or tax payments are encouraged to sign up for preauthorized payments. 

The Meridian Community Centre is open for summer day camps, keeping a maximum of eight children and two staff per group. Significant efforts are being devoted to keeping camp participants physically separated. Specialty camps taking place at Old Pelham Town Hall will follow the same procedures. Ice in the Duliban Insurance Arena is available for rental, and the number of users on the ice at any time will be limited; change rooms will be closed. The ice will be available for use beginning July 8.

The pool at Marlene Stewart Streit Park will also be open, and users are reminded that they should arrive in their bathing suits as change rooms remain closed. 

The Recreation, Culture and Wellness department is revamping the Pelham Pool schedule to accommodate to Niagara Region’s Public Health regulations.  The new summer 2020 schedule includes group and private swimming lessons, Aqua Zumba, lane swims and family swims. 

Programs will have to be pre-booked through www.pelham.ca/register. No drop-ins are allowed during this phase of reopening. 

All Town of Pelham facilities will be appropriately cleaned daily with additional disinfection to all touchpoints every four hours.

Learn more about the Town of Pelham’s response to COVID-19, visit: www.pelham.ca/covid19

Pelham Transit returns to regular rates July 2

Beginning Thursday, July 2, Pelham Transit rates will return to their normal fare of $3 per ride. The uPass, used by university and college students, will no longer be accepted as a form of payment.

Since March, riders have been asked not to interact with the farebox. As the Province enters Stage 2 of reopening, and the Town of Pelham loosens restrictions based on Provincial and Public Health recommendations, transit fares resume.

Regular routes are still postponed and the transit service is continuing to be offered on a dial-a-ride basis only. 

Dial-a-ride service offers residents pick up and drop off locations within Pelham or Seaway Mall or Niagara College. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the dial-a-ride service continues to operate Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

All rides using the dial-a-ride service must be booked 48 hours in advance and are available to anyone. Rides are booked on a first come, first serve basis. Phone calls will be answered Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

If booking a ride for Mondays or Tuesdays, please call the Friday before. To book a ride, call 905-892-2607 x347. Rides must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.

All riders are encouraged to wear face coverings when using public transit. For more information on Pelham Transit, visit www.pelham.ca/transit 

To learn more about the Town of Pelham’s response to COVID-19, visit: www.pelham.ca/covid19

Beat the heat this summer - ice rentals at the MCC now available

Ice in the Duliban Insurance arena is available for rental. Physical distancing guidelines and at-the-door health screening is required for everyone entering the building.  Beginning Wednesday, July 8, pre-booked ice rentals begin. 

For those looking to rent ice this summer, you can do so  by calling 905-892-2607 x329. 

Ice time is available in one-hour blocks. Change rooms are not available and skaters are asked to come dressed. 

When inside the building, users are asked to keep two metres apart from one another. Floor stickers and signage will help guide users.