Mayor DaSilva declares a state of municipal emergency in East Providence

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – City of East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva issues an executive order, declares a state of municipal emergency in East Providence.

In an effort to control the community spread of COVID-19, Mayor DaSilva issued an executive order, which suspends municipal and probate courts, suspends entertainment licenses and other special event permits, limits the number of people who gather at bars, social clubs, restaurants and places of worship within the City, as well as postpones public events during the municipal emergency, among other directives.

“We are really hoping to do this to keep you and your family safe from contracting and spreading the virus,” says Mayor DaSilva.

All city offices and operations will remain open until further notice, but the community should continue to avoid visiting City Hall or other municipal offices to conduct non-essential business. Residents should instead utilize the City’s website to conduct normal business and visit the city’s social pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for updates.

Officials are also strongly encouraging the community to practice social distancing by avoiding gatherings of more than 100 people including places of worship, funerals and wakes and other events and social gatherings.

PLEASE NOTE:

East Providence Senior Center has halted all programs until further notice. Seniors seeking food, prescriptions or other senior services are encouraged to call Senior Center staff at 401-435-7800. Please provide a 24-hour notice before delivery is needed.

East Providence Library: All branches are closed until further notice. The community still has online access to the library and the following services through the website, www.eastprovidencelibrary.org:

• eZone (ebooks and audiobooks)
• Flipster (online magazines)
• Kanopy (movie streaming)
• Catalog (to place holds)
• Items that are due during the closure will be renewed and fines waived

East Providence Public Schools is offering pick up and go spots for meals March 16, 2020 –March 20, 2020. 

Truck 1:
8:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
Carousel 700 Bullocks Point Ave. Riverside, RI

9:15 a.m. -9:45 a.m.
Pierce Field Stadium 201 Mercer St. East Providence, RI

Truck 2:
8:30 a.m.-9 a.m.
Evergreen Apartments
15 Evergreen Dr. East Providence, RI

9:15 a.m. -9:45 a.m.
Freedom Green Park North Broadway, Rumford, RI

Production Site:
8:30 a.m. -10 a.m. East Providence High School Student Parking Lot 2000 Pawtucket Ave. East Providence, RI 

East Providence Police are asking members of the public to avoid entering the lobby unless there is an emergency. CALL 911 for EMERGENCIES ONLY and the EPPD will respond immediately.

The community is being asked to please call the EPPD’s business line at 401- 435-7600 and PRESS 1 to speak to dispatch for situations that might be resolved via phone.
Officers will be temporarily allowed to take reports over the phone for an issue or incident that we feel may not require an in-person response. Examples may be:

1. Calls for advice
2. Neighbor disputes/civil matters
3. Lost or stolen items of low/no value
4. Minor vandalism
5. Animal related issues that are not a threat to public safety

WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex M. Azar, III, declared a public health emergency for the entire United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the State of Rhode Island Governor, Gina M. Raimondo, issued Executive Order 20-02 declaring a state of emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a Pandemic; and

WHEREAS, community transmission in the United States has occurred in many states and is an immediate public health threat to the elderly and those with underlying health conditions; and

WHEREAS, cases of COVID-19 have been documented in the State of Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, the State of Rhode Island and various public health officials have reached out to the City of East Providence to take steps to contain the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the City of East Providence needs to take additional measures to limit the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Laws §§ 30-15-12 and 30-15-13, as well as the Home Rule Charter of the City of East Providence Article III, Section 3-5(9), permit the Mayor to declare a state of municipal emergency for the purpose of taking action to protect the health, safety and security of the City and its inhabitants; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Laws §§30-15-12(b) and 30-15-9(e)(1) permit the Mayor to suspend the provisions of any statute, regulation, or requirement prescribing the procedures for the conduct of city business, or the orders, rules, regulations of any city, board, or agency, if strict compliance with the provisions of any statute, order, rule or regulation would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action in coping with this emergency; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Laws §§ 30-15-9(e)(3) and (7), and 30-15-12(b), permit the Mayor to transfer the direction, personnel, or functions of City departments and agencies or units thereof for the purpose of performing or facilitating emergency services; to control ingress and egress to and from high risk areas, the movement of persons within the area, and the occupancy of premises therein; and to take appropriate measures for the protection of health, safety, and welfare of the people of the city/town and to prevent or minimize the loss of life.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the City of East Providence, pursuant to the Rhode Island General Laws and the Home Rule Charter of the City of East Providence, do hereby order and direct the following:

1. A state of municipal emergency is hereby declared for the City of East Providence due to the dangers to health and life posed by COVID-19.
2. All city departments, agencies, or quasi-municipal agencies and boards and commissions preforming executive functions shall cooperate fully with the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) and EPEMA in all matters concerning this Order. Efforts to provide emergency disaster relief to the City of East Providence should be coordinated by and through EPEMA.
3. All sessions of the East Providence Municipal and Probate Courts shall be suspended until further notice.
4. All entertainment licenses and special event permits, whether for bars, restaurants, social clubs, or other events, are hereby suspended during the period of this state of emergency. The City of East Providence will not be issuing any entertainment licenses or special event permits during the period of this state of emergency.
5. All places of public gatherings, including but not limited to, bars, restaurants, places of worship, and social clubs within the borders of the City of East Providence may continue to remain open; however, they are limited in occupancy to fifty (100) persons regardless of the establishment’s size or configuration.
6. City officials are directed to cancel all non-essential official city meetings, limit the travel of city employees, and postpone all public events during the period of this state of municipal emergency.
7. All city offices and operations shall otherwise remain open until further notice and shall continue to otherwise operate in their ordinary course of business.
8. City residents are strongly encouraged to curtail visiting City Hall or other municipal offices to conduct non-essential business and to utilize the City’s website to conduct normal business.
9. Pursuant to the emergency powers granted by the Rhode Island General Laws, and any other applicable provisions of state or local law, I shall from time to time issue additional directives, orders, and recommendations as circumstances require, either written or verbal.
10. Nothing in this Executive Order shall constrain duties and powers of the City, the Mayor, or EPEMA authorized by Title 30, Chapter 15 of the General Laws and the East Providence Home Rule Charter.
11. The Executive Order 2020-002 issued on March 11, 2020 shall remain in full force and effect. Nothing in the Executive Order 2020-002 issued on March 11, 2020, shall constrain duties and powers of the City of East Providence.
12. The Executive Order 2020-003 issued on March 13, 2020 shall remain in full force and effect. Nothing in the Executive Order 2020-003 issued on March 13, 2020, shall constrain duties and powers of the City of East Providence.
13. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect through March 22, 2020, and, with the consent of the City Council, it shall continue in effect and automatically renew for a period of seven (7) days through April 17, 2020.