COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) RESOURCES

FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS

(UPDATED ON A REGULAR BASIS AS NEW INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE)

Status Report of Municipal Services (Updated on a Regular Basis)

PUBLIC NOTICE

Coronavirus Update: Plainfield Township Facility Closures/Status of Municipal Services

In accordance with Governor Wolf’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency as amended on March 25, 2020 by a “stay-at-home” order for Northampton County, and in direct response to the public health emergency surrounding the Coronavirus, known as COVID-19, the following Plainfield Township facilities are hereby CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, until Thursday, June 4, 2020, after which time the situation will be re-evaluated for appropriate action:

• Plainfield Township Municipal Building, 6292 Sullivan Trail, Nazareth, PA 18064
• Plainfield Township Road Department Building, 517 Getz Road, Nazareth, PA 18064

DISASTER DECLARATION- PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP: Effective March 17, 2020, Plainfield Township has declared an emergency disaster amid COVID-19 concerns. The Disaster Emergency Declaration was enacted out of an abundance of caution and to give the Township the ability to render emergency management services to protect the public health, safety and welfare of Plainfield Township residents and business owners, as determined to be necessary.

STATUS OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS/EMPLOYEES CONTACT INFORMATION: Plainfield Township personnel are available by telephone or email to assist the needs of the community by calling/emailing the following:

• Plainfield Township Planning/Zoning Department please call 610-759-6944 and/or email zoning@plainfieldtownship.org, admin@plainfieldtownship.org or manager@plainfieldtownship.org

Starting May 1st, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has authorized construction activities to commence again, subject to contractors strictly adhering to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Guidance for the Construction Industry and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guidance. All required inspections under the Uniform Construction Code will be subject to the following protocols and procedures:

1. Inspections may start to be scheduled with KeyCodes Inspection Agency on Monday, April 27, 2020.

2. The number of requests for daily inspections with KeyCodes Inspection Agency will be limited as follows: a). 3 inspections maximum per contractor per day; b). Contractors with multiple developments will be able to schedule 3 inspections per day in each development.

3. All inspections must follow Commonwealth of Pennsylvania protocol for construction and inspections as well as adhere to CDC guidelines. The Commonwealth guidelines are provided at the following link:

Construction Industry Guidance 4.23.20 To Open 05-01-20

4. If contractors are not in compliance with following the Commonwealth’s guidance or CDC guidelines at the time of inspections, the inspection will fail and will need to be re-scheduled.

• Plainfield Township Road Department or Parks/Recreation Trail service request can be made at 610-759-6944 or email manager@plainfieldtownship.org

• Should you need any other Township service please call 610-759-6944 or email the Township Manager at manager@plainfieldtownship.org or send your request via U.S. Mail to the Plainfield Township Municipal Building, 6292 Sullivan Trail, Nazareth, PA 18064 Attention: Township Manager

PLEASE NOTE THAT ZONING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. CONSTRUCTION COMMENCING WITHOUT REQUIRED PERMITS WILL BE ADDRESSED BY PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

REPORT A PROBLEM – CITIZEN PROBLEM REPORTER: Effective April 28, 2020 and to better assist Plainfield Township residents and business owners during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, residents may submit non-emergency problems to the Township using the Citizen Problem Reporter application, which is software that can be used by the general public to submit non-emergency problems or requests for municipal service in the community from a smartphone, tablet, and/or desktop computer. The link to use the Citizen Problem Reporter application is provided as follows:

https://plainfieldtownship.org/report-a-problem/

SLATE BELT REGIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT/POLICE SERVICES: The Slate Belt Regional Police Department is fully operational and can be reached for non-emergencies by using the outside telephone at the designated entrance of the Plainfield Township Municipal Building or by calling the non-emergency dispatch number at 610-759-2200. In the event of a true emergency, always dial 9-1-1.

FIRE DEPARTMENT/EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS): Both entities continue to respond to all situations and calls.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS: In accordance with Governor Wolf’s “stay-at-home” order issued on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 for Northampton County and in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors will hold regular Board of Supervisors meetings via telephone conference. The dedicated conference call phone number/participant information is provided as follows:

Call-In Number: 888-788-0099 (US Toll Free); Conference ID: 391 592 5613 (Press # when prompted)

ADVISORY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES: All Plainfield Township Advisory Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings are CANCELLED until Thursday, June 4, 2020, after which time the situation will be re-evaluated for appropriate action.

PARKS/RECREATION FACILITIES – SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP RECREATION TRAIL, PARKS, OPEN SPACE & RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT: Plainfield Township’s outdoor facilities technically remain open in a limited capacity at this time; however, it is important to note that Township personnel do not have the ability to sanitize the apparatus and playground equipment. Use of the trail, parks and playground equipment is at your own risk. Use of the playground equipment is not recommended by Plainfield Township at this time. Do not visit any Plainfield Township facilities if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19. Practice social distancing by staying 6 feet away from others. Avoid gatheiring in groups and do not visit areas that are crowded. All Plainfield Township sponsored programs, workshops, organized sporting activities, and special events on Township fields or in Township facilities are also CANCELLED until Thursday, June 4, 2020, after which time the situation will be re-evaluated for appropriate action.

SOLID WASTE (GARBAGE)/RECYCLING COLLECTION: COVID-19 has not impacted municipal solid waste/recycling collection services at this time, as municipal solid waste/recycling collection services are considered essential life-sustaining services in accordance with the Governor’s latest guidance.

REAL ESTATE TAX COLLECTIONS: The Plainfield Township Tax Collector, Susan Lieberman, is no longer accepting in-person real estate tax payments. Payments can be made via mail or dropped off at the secure lock box at her office located at 1549 Pen Argyl Road, Pen Argyl, PA 18072. The Tax Collector can be reached by phone at 610-588-7917 or via an email to sliebermantc@gmail.com. Please note that the Per Capita Tax has been eliminated by the Board of Supervisors for 2020 and going forward.

EARNED INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS: Keystone Collections Group provides a dedicated, toll-free phone line for taxpayer inquiries. The number is 1-866-539-1100.

Earned Income Tax (EIT) Rate Update as of 4/3/2020 

Act 10 of 2020, recently signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf, directs that the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) coordinate the filing extension and payment deadlines of the Local Earned Income Tax (EIT) so that they coincide with State filing extensions.

Individuals- EIT: With the enactment of Act 10 of 2020, the filing deadline for 2019 Individual Earned Income Tax Returns in Pennsylvania has been extended to July 15, 2020. This means taxpayers will have an additional 90 days to file from the original deadline of April 15.

This extension applies to both 2019 individual tax returns and payments as well as estimated payments for the 1st quarter of 2020. Additionally, all penalties and interest will be waived on 2019 earned income tax payments through the new deadline of July 15, 2020.

Some localities and collection agencies have already announced extensions for local earned income tax returns – the enactment of Act 10 now makes this universal to ALL municipalities in the Commonwealth.

Employers- EIT: Currently, there are no extensions for Employer 1st quarter 2020 earned income tax returns or payment of the 1st quarter 2020 tax withheld from employees – that deadline remains April 30.

NIXLE COMMUNITY ALERTS: Please assist Plainfield Township officials with the dissemination of pertinent and timely information concerning COVID-19 to Plainfield Township residents and business owners by signing up for the NIXLE community alert service. Information on how to sign up is provided on the Plainfield Township website at the following link:

https://plainfieldtownship.org/community-alerts-nixle-system/

COVID-19 RESOURCES: For all the latest COVID-19-related Plainfield Township announcements, news, and updates, please visit the Township website (COVID-19 Resources menu tab at the top of the website) at https://plainfieldtownship.org/covid-19-resources/

Please continue to monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s websites for the latest information and guidance.