White Plains, NY — Beginning Friday, June 25, the Board of Legislators' offices, Committee and Board meetings will once again be open to the public for in-person access, Board Chairman Ben Boykin (D – White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison) announced.
The re-opening comes after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York disaster emergency -- declared on March 7, 2020 to fight COVID-19 -- will expire after Thursday, June 24, 2021.
During the emergency, the Board has maintained remote public access to its meetings via web streaming and Webex teleconferencing; but the Board is excited to be welcoming the people back in person to the people's house.
Pursuant to CDC guidelines, and to protect the health and safety of the public and Board staff, the Board will implement the following procedures for in-person public access:
- Members of the public coming to the Board's offices, including for Committee and Board meetings, will be required to sign in and provide contact information in case contact tracing needs to be done in the future.
- Temperatures will be checked, and people with fevers will not be allowed on the Board's 8th floor offices.
- Masks will be required to be worn in common areas such as the Board Chamber, Committee Room, hallways and Geist Library, other than when a person is speaking during the public comment session at a Board meeting.
It is wonderful to see Westchester emerging from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are mindful that we must remain vigilant. We must continue to observe common sense public health and safety measures, and we urge everyone who can to get vaccinated against COVID-19.