City of Lock Haven Lays Off 24 Employees Due to Coronavirus

LOCK HAVEN – During a special meeting of Lock Haven City Council Wednesday afternoon, council voted to extend the City’s proclamation of a State of Emergency through May 3. 

In order to reduce the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus by city employees and the public, council moved to lay off 24 employees effective April 13. The employees include 7 employees of Streets and Public Property maintenance, 4 employees from the City’s water distribution operations, 6 fulltime clerks, and 7 part-time employees.

“The City does not take this action lightly, but the primary concern as a municipality and an employer is to support the health and wellbeing of our employees,” said City Manager Greg Wilson. 

“The action of Council shows its seriousness in trying to limit their exposure to COVID-19,” Wilson went on to say.  The employees affected by the layoff are currently being paid by the city to “stay, calm, stay home, and stay safe” for through April 12. 

Employees in the city’s essential services of police, fire and wastewater (sewer) operations, and those involved in life-sustaining operations, totaling 42 workers, will remain on the job.  Twelve of the employees remaining are taking on extra tasks in order to maintain life-sustaining operations and support essential functions including processing payments on utility bills to ensure that operations can continue and to make sure that the City’s vendors, most of which are small business, and many of which are local, can continue to operate.

“Employees who are laid off should expect to return to work, temporarily or permanently, in order to assist with emergency, essential and life-sustaining operations when these develop,” Wilson said.  “It is absolutely the intention of the City that eventually every laid off employee will return to work,” Wilson stated.

As part of the extension of the State of Emergency in the City, the following continue to apply to all City-owned facilities and public spaces:

City Hall, the Public Works garage on Second Avenue, and the wastewater treatment plant on Hanna Street remain closed to the public.  Only approved employees are to enter these facilities.

The City’s Fire Department stations of Hand-in-Hand Hose Company, Hope Hose Company, and Citizens Hose Company remain closed to the public in order to limit exposure to the City’s fulltime and part-time fire drivers, and active volunteers responding to an emergency.

Those gathering or playing at any City-owned parks or recreation facilities are to limit their group to less than ten individuals together at a time, and those using play equipment should disinfect equipment both before and after use.  Individuals using the Clinger Riverwalk on the levee for exercise should always maintain 6 feet between themselves and others in order to limit exposure to COVID-19.

Community visitors to the City’s Piper Memorial Airport are restricted to current tenants and businesses approved to continue operations under the Governor’s order from the facility, approved contractors and employees.  The airport will operate with limited hours of Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with afterhours call-ins available as directed through the FAA NOTAM.

City Council will continue to keep their regular meeting schedule during the extension of the City’s State of Emergency but will do so by video conference.  The link to view the agenda for meetings and to view the video conference are available on the City’s website as well as the email addresses for Members of Council, the City Manager, and other department supervisors and director for those with questions, comments or concerns.

The City will continue to waive interest and penalties on water & sewer bills issued by the City but encourages customers to make these payments as soon as possible to enable the continuation of services.  The City has also acted to waive late fees for deferred payments for April and May on loans through its Commercial Loan Program.

Council has also established a payment plan for 2020 Real Estate Taxes for those who are experiencing financial hardship because of COVID-19.

The City continues to encourage the use of its MyCivic App “Lock Haven City” to report nonemergency issues to public works during the State of Emergency.  The app is available for free download from both Apple and Android smartphone users.