NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

UTILITY PAYMENT HELP: Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission lifted the moratorium on utility shut-offs Nov. 9. The moratorium was imposed in mid-March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northampton County’s Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Human Services offer assistance for residents struggling with utility payments. Tenant Navigators can handle calls about electric, sewer, water, natural gas bills, etc. They also provide the Cares Rent Relief program, as well as rental assistance.

For residents in Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, Hellertown or Lower Saucon Township, contact New Bethany Ministries at 610-691-5602 extension 213.

For Easton residents contact either The Easton Area Neighborhood Center at 610-253-4253 or email Ross Marcus at rmarcus@eastonanc.org or ProJeCt of Easton at 610-258-1100 or email Michael Banas at mbanas@projecteaston.org

For all other municipalities, contact Third Street Alliance at 610-438-1763 or email Ziana Keith at zkeith@thirdstreetalliance.org

Residential households hit hardest by the economic downturn – customers with incomes at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines – are protected from termination until March 31, 2021. These “protected customers” must apply for all available assistance programs and must request a payment arrangement from the utility, if appropriate.

Gross household income should qualify “as at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.”

PENNSYLVANIA

RESTAURANTS: Pennsylvania restaurant, bar and club owners are reminded that they may increase indoor capacity from 25 percent to 50 percent through self-certification, which will increase consumer confidence, but will not lead to additional inspections or penalties.

As of Nov. 2, nearly 8,300 restaurants – or approximately 32 percent of all restaurants – have self-certified. The self-certification process is still open for restaurants that wish to self-certify. There is no cost to self-certification.

Restaurants can access the online self-certification form on PA.GOV/COVID. Self-certification enables restaurants, private social clubs and food service businesses that serve dine-in, sit down food in a regular, non-event capacity to increase indoor occupancy to 50 percent while adhering to mitigation efforts that will keep employees and customers safe.

The occurrence of regularly scheduled or complaint-based inspections from enforcement agencies will not be affected by certification status. In fact, certifying proves that a business is committed to protecting employees and providing patrons a safe dining experience.

The Wolf administration has released Frequently Asked Questions as a reference for restaurant owners and the public, along with updated restaurant guidance.

Business owners with additional questions about the self-certification program can contact covidselfcert@pa.gov.

PLCB ENFORCEMENT: Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 287 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, Nov. 6-8 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social distancing, masking, and other health and safety requirements of the liquor code.

Liquor Control Enforcement Officers issued 18 notices of violation and 34 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements. As mandated by the liquor code, a notice of violation precedes the issuance of an administrative citation, which is civil in nature, and is intended to provide licensed liquor establishments notification of the nature of violation(s) discovered.

Compliance checks are unannounced and can occur anywhere in the commonwealth, although the focus is on areas experiencing higher coronavirus transmission rates. Among other requirements, all businesses and employees in the restaurant and retail food service industry authorized to conduct in-person activities are mandated to:

• Require all customers to wear masks while entering, exiting or otherwise traveling throughout the restaurant or retail food service business (face masks may be removed while seated). Further, employees are required to wear masks at all times.

• Provide at least six feet between parties at tables or physical barriers between customers where booths are arranged back to back.

• Ensure maximum occupancy limits for indoor and outdoor areas are posted and enforced.

Complaints regarding licensees not complying with COVID-19 mitigation mandates may be directed to the BLCE at 1-800-932-0602 or reported through the BLCE’s online complaint form.

RESEARCH REQUESTS: Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced that the department has published a request for applications for entities to conduct collaborative research on COVID-19, focusing on the health impacts and novel treatments of the virus.

The Request for Applications opened Oct. 28,and the deadline for collaborative research is Dec. 9. The grant work will begin on June 1, 2021 and end on May 31, 2025. Interested entities must submit a letter of intent as instructed.

HOMELESS HELP: Governor Tom Wolf has announced that nearly $20 million is now available to assist Pennsylvanians currently experiencing homelessness. The commonwealth received its second allocation of federal COVID-19 Homeless Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG-CV) funds, and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has set aside a portion of those funds to be used toward emergency shelter in preparation for the winter months 2020-21.

Under a new grant program called ESG-CV Code Blue, applicants may apply for funding for emergency shelter and temporary emergency shelter to expand shelter for those experiencing homelessness. The program will prioritize the use of these funds to assist homeless providers and communities prepare for, prevent the spread of and respond to COVID-19 through the use of emergency shelter and temporary emergency shelter components.