POUGHKEEPSIE – Mayor Rob Rolison and Poughkeepsie Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser held an online meeting to give an update on the city and district during the pandemic on Tuesday evening.
The two city leaders used the theater at Changepoint Church to stream the update on Facebook Live. An audience of nearly 200 viewers tuned in to hear Rolison give an overview of city functions and a report of damage sustained during Monday’s lengthy storm while Rosser used his time to update the community on the upcoming online learning for students of the district.
“The city is doing well,” the mayor said in his opening remarks. He informed viewers that all city government buildings have been decontaminated at least one time already and plans are being developed to have the process repeated. The mayor took a moment to reinforce the need for safe social-distancing when out in public, adding that the city’s playgrounds, basketball courts, and other facilities are off-limits until the pandemic wanes.
Pausing to speak about the storm, Rolison commended the DPW workers and first responders who answered several calls on Monday for downed trees across roadways as well as damaged power lines that created public safety risks. Seven city streets were closed at various times during the storm because of trees, wires, or a combination of both. Those streets have been cleared and DPW workers are still working on more than three dozen storm-related debris calls throughout the city.
Rolison told of how he and members of the administration have been involved in numerous conference calls with other local governments, county officials, and representatives of state and federal governments to discuss strategies for dealing with the disruption caused by the COVID-19 situation. He pointed out that everyone in the region and beyond is experiencing the same disruption and that, when appropriate, the city and neighboring towns will re-open. “It needs to be a joint effort with coordination from all for the plan to be effective,” said Rolison.
Addressing concerns submitted from viewers electronically, Rolison responded to calls for available mental health resources. The mayor praised the responsiveness of the Dutchess County Office of Behavioral Health and their round-the-clock services available by calling the “helpline” for assistance with mental health issues. The mayor also revisited the BEAT program which is a joint effort between the police department and county crisis workers. The program teams police with crisis workers who perform outreach to those in need of services. Preparing for an uptick in people in crisis needing assistance, Rolison said that officials are planning for a potential expansion of the program. “We are going to get through this together,” declared Rolison.
