Latrobe Council postpones meeting following covid outbreak at municipal building

A covid-19 outbreak among workers at the Latrobe municipal building prompted city council to postpone its voting meeting that was scheduled on Sept. 13.

Deputy Mayor Eric Bartels said the meeting was postponed as a precautionary measure and will be conducted on Sept. 27, with the regularly scheduled agenda preparation session for October’s meeting immediately following.

Bartels said covid cases were reported among several workers, but he wasn’t sure of the number affected. He said the municipal building was closed for a few days last week, according to safety protocols, and the premises were cleansed.

City police said Monday the building once again is open for business, but visitors must wear a mask upon entering.

During the initial months of the pandemic, council approved an emergency declaration and either conducted meetings entirely virtually or allowed council members the choice of participating remotely.

Bartels noted that declaration has lapsed, so members now are required to attend council meetings in person.

When council holds its delayed meeting, it is expected to approve a list of projects and expenditures the city intends to fund with pandemic recovery dollars. The agenda also will include awarding a contract for replacement of a sidewalk at the rear of Adams Memorial Library and seeking bids or proposals for a supplemental paving program and for upgrading downtown surveillance cameras and software used to conduct virtual meetings.

“There really wasn’t anything all that urgent that we had to approve it right away,” Bartels said.