LYNN — City Hall has reopened to the public — with restrictions.
Mayor Thomas M. McGee said the public has had access to the building since last Tuesday, but outdoor services will continue.
No more than 25 members of the public are allowed inside City Hall at the same time and residents are required to wear face coverings and to comply with social distancing, McGee said.
“The key is everybody having face coverings on, both coming into the building and interacting (with others),” said McGee. “The No. 1 priority is the safety of the public and the safety of the employees, and we’ll continue to focus on that.”
Since the building reopened, McGee said there’s been a steady stream of people coming and going, but the process has gone well so far in terms of keeping track of the 25-person limit.
Allowing limited public access is another step in the mayor’s phased reopening plan for City Hall.
Department heads returned during the first week of June and all other employees started returning the following week. Non-department heads have been working on a staggered schedule, with two teams alternating between working on-site and remotely to comply with social distancing guidelines.
Glass barriers have been installed to further separate office spaces, and all employees are required to check their temperatures each morning and self-certify their results upon arriving at work.
Outdoor services for the city clerk’s office, city treasurer/collector, and Inspectional Services Department, which started last month, will continue.
The public will continue to be barred from attending public meetings at City Hall. Residents can watch the meetings virtually and call in to provide input, McGee said.
“We anticipate ongoing meetings to be virtual, particularly on the boards and commissions, as we move forward,” said McGee.
McGee stressed the importance of following coronavirus guidelines and restrictions to ensure public safety, as the city has been hit hard by the pandemic.
“We have had tough decisions we’ve had to make,” said McGee. “We’re starting to see reductions, and we definitely want to ensure we continue to be vigilant. We definitely don’t want to see a huge spike and be where we were a month and a half ago.”
