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City Of Brownsville, TN
Office Of The City Mayor – Executive Order Number 2

EXECUTIVE ORDER ISSUING A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF BROWNSVILLE TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

WHEREAS, the current and/or recent impact of an outbreak of COVID-19 often referred to as the Coronavirus, has produced conditions that threaten the public safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Brownsville;

WHEREAS, the Governor of Tennessee has issued a State of Emergency per Executive Order Number 14, dated 12 March 2020 and extended the provisions of the State of Emergency by issuing Executive Order 50 and 51; suspending provisions of certain statutes and rules in order to facilitate the treatment and containment of COVID-19 through August 31, 2020;

WHEREAS, in addition to what is ordered in the Governor’s Executive Order #14, the Attorney General of Tennessee has issued a “Cease and Desist” order pertaining to price gouging during the State of Emergency, dated 14 March 2020; warning of retail establishments taking advantage of the public as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak;

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has issued a National Emergency per Executive
Order, dated 13 March 2020; to facilitate the protection from and containment of COVID-19;
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, City Officials and Department Heads will develop plans to initiate and restrict public access to their buildings and offices, while at the same time ensure we address the public’s need to conduct business with their government. In addition to this directive, our City will:

Suspend or require electronic participation of all public hearings and meetings, including boards, commissions, and task forces and attending regional employee meetings in accordance with Governor Lee’s Executive Order #51.

City Court will be open but social distancing measures will be in place and facial coverings will be required until further notice;

Cancel all professional travel and training, except public safety training, for city employees until further notice;

Promote city employees to conduct meetings virtually, using telephone, Zoom, GoToMeeting or FaceTime for internal messages;

West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center and the public library will be open to the public but social distancing measures will be in place and facial coverings will be required until further notice;

Health and janitorial/sanitation personnel assigned to city buildings will disinfect the city facilities and other facilities in need of assistance if personnel are available.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that employees at City Hall will continue to work in the office but members of the general public shall make an appointment with City Hall for any in person business. Members of the general public entering City Hall must wear a protective facial covering upon entering City Hall. Property taxes and monies for fines or other amounts owed will be collected by US mail or credit card via the phone;

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that employees hired after the effective date of this Executive Order must provide proof of a negative COVID 19 test within 5 days prior to starting employment for the City of Brownsville;

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that employees who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID 19 are required to stay at home and report symptoms to their supervisor. The employee cannot return to work until they provide negative test results to their supervisor and cleared to return to work;

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that per the authority of Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 58-8-104, the City will possibly limit or suspend forthcoming scheduled open meetings and public gatherings that could possibly expose participants to this harmful virus to no more than 50 attendees;

THEREFORE, in the interest of the public safety and welfare of our citizens, I, William D. Rawls, Jr., Mayor of the City of Brownsville, do hereby declare pursuant to the statutes of the State of Tennessee and applicable local ordinances/resolutions of the City of Brownsville that a 7 Day State of Emergency originally declared on March 20th, 2020 is extended through the 31st day of August, 2020.

Respectfully Declared, on this 1st day of July, 2020.

______________________________________________
WILLIAM D. RAWLS, JR., MAYOR
CITY OF BROWNSVILLE, TENNESSEE 1st