Oneonta City Hall and Other City Buildings Closed to Public

Together, all of us here in the City of Oneonta are coping with the stress and disruption of this unprecedented virus pandemic. I want to thank the Oneonta community for the very positive and effective response we have seen to last Friday’s advisory regarding limiting close social interaction. We are in this together and will come out of it stronger than ever. City Personnel, in partnership with our Health Officer Dr. Diane Georgeson, have been working in close cooperation with the offices of Governor Cuomo, A. O. Fox Hospital, Bassett Healthcare, SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick College, Otsego County, the Town of Oneonta, and Congressman Delgado in developing practices designed to keep the public informed, provided with needed services, and healthy.

Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all City buildings will be closed to the public until further notice. Persons requiring emergency assistance from the Oneonta Police Department can do so by entering the lobby at the Public Safety Building. I can ensure you that we will continue to provide all essential services to the residents of the City. We are also committed to the safety of our employees and look to comply with Governor Cuomo’s request that local governments reduce their workforce by 50%. To do so we will be curtailing all non-essential services and activities.

At 7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 17, I will conduct a live broadcast on the City of Oneonta’s Facebook page of our Council Meeting at which I will discuss the changes in services in more detail. As you are aware, we are dealing with a fast changing, complex problem so we will be sure to communicate developments as they happen. Through strong community cooperation, we can stay ahead of the curve on this and keep each other healthy. I have great faith in the people of Oneonta to work together for the good of all. At this time, the best thing we can all do is to try and stay home.