Clifton Park keeps regular hours in town buildings amid coronavirus response

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

Clifton Park Supervisor Phil Barrett speaks at a press conference on Tuesday.

CLIFTON PARK — The town of Clifton Park is focused on maintaining regular hours in town buildings to stay on track for summer preparation.

The town is continuing to observe normal operating hours at Town Hall for all departments. However, on Wednesday afternoon, it said the hours for the town transfer station would be adjusted starting Friday due to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mandate that all businesses cut the number of workers they have on site by 50 percent.

Town Court is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for routine court matters, such as the payment of a fine, but town justices will not be holding court on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. All pending cases have been adjourned and parties will receive a new court date.

Some aspects of town, while staffed, are closed to the general public. The Clifton Park Senior Community Center is closed to the public except for town employees and volunteers affiliated with the daily lunch program. The lunch program continues with delivery only.

The Senior Express, which transports seniors, is also observing normal hours, providing rides to grocery stores, medical appointments and other locations as necessary for eligible residents.

Starting Friday, the town’s transfer station will be open 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Saturday hours will remain 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Town Supervisor Phil Barrett said that the pandemic had hit during a time that is usually an all-hands-on-deck transition period.

“We have a lot of work to do, as municipalities,” he said. “And right now, it’s a very busy time.” Usually at this point the town begins to get ready for the start of the summer season, which includes cleaning the town parks, prepping for summer camps and getting the town’s three swimming pools ready.

He said cutting back on the number of employees present could slow down day- to-day work.

Barrett said employees are still working the same number of hours they normally would, but with slightly adjusted shifts.