Howell, Farmingdale Declare Disaster Emergency Amid Coronavirus

HOWELL, NJ — Howell and Farmingdale authorities jointly declared a disaster state of emergency in the two towns on Friday as efforts to slow the outbreak of the new coronavirus continue across the state and the nation.

The declaration, on the township's website, reiterates many of the restrictions that have been put in place by Gov. Phil Murphy in attempts to force social distancing to reduce the spread of the virus.

As of Friday afternoon, there were 890 positive tests for COVID-19 in New Jersey, and 11 people have died from it, according to the state health department. More than 50 percent of those positives are people who are hospitalized, officials said.

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There have been 43 positives in Monmouth County, including five members of the Fusco family. Rita Fusco-Jackson, 55, was the county's first death from the virus. In addition, her mother Grace Fusco, 73, and two brothers, Vincent, and Carmine (who lived in Pennsylvania) have died.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

The township also said it will continue to keep its buildings closed to the public.

Officials have made plans for conducting the township council meeting, which is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting will be recorded and posted on the township website, but it additionally will be livestreamed on the township's YouTube channel; it also can be watched at the link titled 03/24/2020- Live Council Meeting feed on the township website here. There will be no executive session.

The regular meeting time has been adjusted so council members and employees have enough time to travel home afterward.

There are three times where there will be public comment at the meeting.

The first portion is for comment only on items on the agenda.

The second is a public hearing for the 2020 Budget for Fire District #2 (Adelphia). An additional $50,000 has been cut from the budget in meetings between the fire district and township officials.

The third area of public participation includes a public hearing for the adoption of ordinance O20-5, an Ordinance amending Chapter 139 Fees, Article XVII Land Use, Section 55, Annual Landlord Registration and Registration for Abandoned Residential Property. This ordinance allows an increase in fees charged for certain properties that are bank owned and ensure their maintenance and upkeep.

Comments and questions will be accepted anytime up to the conclusion of the public session during the livestream. To participate, you can call 732-938-4500, ext. 2155, or email publicaccess@twp.howell.nj.us, and post your comments or questions to either.

"To better organize Public input, we request that your comments and questions be separated into the respective category of 'General, Fire Budget, and Ordinance.' This will better allow us to read the comments into the record at the appropriate time during the meeting," the notice said.

In addition to the council meeting, the Howell Township schools announced they are extending remote learning to April 8; spring break will begin April 9 and classes resuming April 20, either remotely or in person as events dictate.

"We are unable to determine at this time if we will be returning to the traditional school setting or further extending our remote learning program. We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and maintain communication as needed," officials said.

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