News Flash

Executive Orders Extended to Feb 9

Governor Lamont today issued Executive Order No. 9L which extends the COVID-19 Executive Orders to February 9, 2021, including Executive Orders affecting municipalities, including the following: 

EO 7B - Suspension of In-Person Open Meeting Requirements - Allows state and municipal agencies to hold remote meetings by conference call, video conference or other technology, to take actions authorized by law. 

EO 7S.7 - Suspension of In-Person Voting Requirements for Critical and Time Sensitive Municipal Fiscal Deadlines - This includes any supplemental, additional or special appropriations under Section 7-348 of the Connecticut General Statutes or comparable provisions of any special act, municipal charter or ordinance, (ii) any tax anticipation notes to be issued under Section 7-405a of the Connecticut General Statutes or comparable provisions of any special act, municipal charter or ordinance, or (iii) municipal general obligation bonds or notes to be issued in anticipation of such bonds to be issued for capital improvement purposes. 

EO 71.16 - Suspension of In-Person Filing Requirements related to Municipal Planning Assessment and Taxation Provisions. 

EO 9H - Hybrid Municipal Meetings - Expressly authorizes municipal agencies to hold hybrid remote/in-person meetings. Download COST's Summary here. 

Note: Executive Orders that are limited in duration are NOT extended, including provisions in EO 7I suspending in-person budget adoption requirements for municipalities and regional boards of education, which are only applicable to budgets for FY July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021. In addition, Executive Order 7S.6 which required municipalities to offer taxpayers a 90 day deferment and/or low interest rate on delinquent payments is not extended because it is limited in duration. 

Governor Lamont Announces STEAP Grants

Governor Ned Lamont today approved more than $11 million in state grants to 94 small towns under the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP). 

COST worked with lawmakers to create the STEAP program several years ago to assist the state's smaller communities in funding critical infrastructure and economic and community development projects. This round of funding also includes grants to assist towns in addressing COVID-19, including redesigning municipal offices and meeting spaces, enhancing technology, and improving ventilation systems. 

COST issued a press release applauding the award of the STEAP grants, which have been stalled for four years. 

State Issues Sports Guidance

The Connecticut Department of Public Health today released updated comprehensive sports guidance incorporating sports to be played in the winter season for both interscholastic leagues, recreational, and private leagues for youth and adults. 

The department’s recommendations will be codified as part of DECD's updated sector rules on sports from the DECD and do not apply to college level or professional athletics. This revision updates comprehensive sports guidance released on September 25 and is intended to guide local health departments, municipalities, and league organizers in assessing the risk of play, and offer suggestions to reduce risk of COVID-19 infection to players, coaches, parents and spectators. This guidance is based on a risk assessment for COVID-19 conducted by the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee of the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), a national organization governing high school athletics. The guidance includes a description of the risk categories for sports, breaks down the risks of different activity associated with those sports, and makes recommendations for each of those activities.

The full sports guidance document can be found online.