Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf issued an emergency declaration March 13 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. That declaration was later upgraded to a major disaster March 30.

Butler County issued a disaster emergency declaration March 18.

Shortly after, municipalities started issuing their own declarations in an effort to cut down on the red tape related to the impact of the virus on local government affairs.

And while the majority of Butler County boroughs and townships adopted such measures, passing an emergency declaration was not a pressing matter for all.

State association recommendation

In a March 26 town hall, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors announced the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) recommends townships across Pennsylvania declare a state of emergency or disaster concerning COVID-19.

The association indicated adopting such a declaration allows townships to “engage in emergency-related purchasing without complying with the bid requirements,” among other things.

Declaring an emergency also means townships “can potentially access disaster-relief funding that may later be made available through PEMA,” according to the state association.

However, the association further advised official actions should still be taken during meetings open to the public, even if conducted remotely. Emergency declarations don't need to be advertised, according to association.

Though most municipalities countywide declared a state of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic, some chose not to.

'We're not there yet'

One local government that has yet to adopt an emergency declaration is Middlesex Township.

During a regular, in-person meeting in April, township manager Travis Cavanaugh said the township hasn't declared a state of emergency and has no immediate plans to do so.

“We're not there yet,” said Mike Spreng, township supervisor chairman, outside the meeting. “I think we're going to be fine.”

Spreng said township employees — including two administrative officials, the road crew and police officers — have not been furlough since COVID-19 first emerged in Pennsylvania.

He said employees work from home or stagger the times they're in the office.

For instance, members of the public works department alternate shifts so only two or three are working at a time. Spreng said because weather has been nice, most of their work has been maintaining township property.

“Things have been super quiet,” Spreng said. “If it was winter time, it'd be a different story.”

Some municipalities declared a state of emergency in hopes of accessing government reimbursement for emergency-related purchases, should funding become available.

Spreng said the township already budgeted what it needs for the year.

“It's there,” Spreng said. “It's already accounted for.”

Spreng said he's considering bringing employees back to work in the office at the end of April, around the time Wolf initially suggested the statewide stay-at-home order will be lifted. Spreng added that if he's able to bring all employees back to the township building at the same time, they will be asked to wear masks.

Spreng also said the township will continue to meet in-person and in public, though supervisors may temporarily do away with work sessions.

“We're not going to keep (the public) out,” he said.

The township indicated on its website that those who attend public meetings will be asked to adhere to social distancing regulations.

For the April 15 meeting, the website also asked the public to submit questions by email in an effort to limit the number of people physically present in the township building.

'At that time, it wasn't needed'

Connoquenessing Township secretary Brenda Davis said supervisors discussed declaring a state of emergency at their April 1 meeting. But for the moment, local officials decided to hold off on such a decision.

“(They felt) at that time, it wasn't needed,” Davis said, adding meetings remain open to the public, though the number of people present is less due to social distancing regulations.

Minutes are posted on the township website once they are approved, she said.

Davis said the supervisors can call a special meeting to declare a state of emergency if there is a need for it in the future and will continue to monitor the situation.

'We're just going by the state'

Secretary and treasurer Janice Zubrin said Buffalo Township also decided to hold off on declaring a state of emergency.

“We're just going by the state,” Zubrin said. “We're just following the (social) restrictions.”

The township hasn't had a meeting since the coronavirus pandemic began in Pennsylvania, according to Zubrin. One was scheduled Wednesday night, but was held via videoconference.

Zubrin said many township employees are still working on-site, though they've distanced themselves from each other.

“We keep away from each other,” Zubrin said. “We've been sanitizing non-stop.”

Zubrin said of the township's 14 full-time employees, only two aren't working.

'It's going to help the residents'

On the other side of the declaration aisle are more than 20 local townships that have already declared a state of emergency.

Concord Township signed its emergency resolution April 8 in a special meeting. The status has been renewed by supervisors every Wednesday since.

“It doesn't so much help the township,” said Kandi Nassy, a Concord supervisor. “But it's going to help the residents.”

Nassy, who was formerly the business manager for the Butler County Association of Township Officials, said Concord was the first Butler County municipality to have a COVID-19 death.

By declaring a state of emergency, she said individuals and business owners are eligible to receive compensation for emergency-related expenses.

Nassy said she has yet to hear of emergency reimbursement programs. But she expects opportunities will become available during things like the 2020 tax season. Nassy said being in a township that's declared a state of emergency allows residents to make claims for some expenditures, such as emergency cleaning.

“None of it's really clear as to what will be available,” Nassy said. “It just supplies some avenues of relief.”