By Melanie Petrucci
Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Town Manager Kevin Mizikar reported to the Board of Selectmen at their April 14 remote participation meeting that, as of April 14, there were 95 positive cases of COVID-19 in Shrewsbury. That number is expected to continue to rise as the commonwealth approaches its peak later this month.
Mizikar said that on average there are 5.2 reported on a daily basis and there have not been any significant increases or decreases in the past seven days.
He also thanked his public heath team, frontline public safety personnel and first responders who along with medical professionals, grocery store workers and pharmacists and other essential workers “who have served valiantly in the face of this pandemic.”
“I also want to take a moment to recognize the efforts of so many Town staff members… we are an organization whose sole purpose is to serve the public, the residents of Shrewsbury, the taxpayers of Shrewsbury. There isn’t one aspect of the organization that hasn’t been impacted,” Mizikar reflected. “I just want to say thank you to all of our employees who continue to be very innovative and responsive during these times.”
Mizikar then reported that the town is in a stable position across the board relative to PPE (personal protective equipment.)
He said: “We are only in this position because of the extremely generous donations from residents and an allocation that we recently received from the Mass. Emergency Management Agency. I look forward to working with the Board to formally recognize all the persons that have donated to the Town during this time at an appropriate time in the future.”
He noted that they were also focusing on financial planning and revisions to the FY2020 and 2021 budgets where needed and that economic advisors are still stressing that the duration of the virus will determine budgetary impacts.
“What is clearly known is that returning to business as usual to soon will have much more of a significant affect than that of a more cautious approach,” he stated.
Finally, Mizikar reminded the community that public buildings do remain closed to the public and he will continue to work with state officials to determine the best time to reconsider that position.
