We’re at the end of our first month in a declared national, statewide, and local state of emergency. In one month, so much has changed—schools, restaurants, gyms, and salons all closed. Life has changed rapidly and seems to have come to a grinding halt. As a result, your local government has also changed.

The local state of emergency allows Town Hall to function differently: We’ve closed the building off to the public except by appointment; we set up separate accounts to track potentially reimbursable expenditures; and now, some freedom of information requirements have been suspended, particularly for in person meetings. Rest assured, we’ll continue to do the town’s business as long as this crisis lasts—but we may be doing it by remote access, either telecom or videoconference. Transparency and open government will continue, just differently.

There are many sources from which I gather my information on this pandemic. For example, I recently had a lengthy conversation with a representative from U.S. Senator Chris Murphy’s office about the particular stressors that local restaurants face. I’m hopeful conversations like that spur our leadership delegation to craft appropriate relief for specific industries. During this time, I’m frequently on conference calls or having daily briefings with our local public safety leadership team to make certain that whatever comes our way, we are as prepared as we can be. We strive for perfection and will certainly make every effort to serve our community at the highest level in this time of need.

For now, your local government is still performing nearly every function it was before this pandemic. Potholes are being filled, mortgages are still being recorded, building inspections are still taking place—-all in a safe manner. Our Connecticut River Area Health District is still performing some of its pre-emergency tasks but is primarily focused now on the pandemic.

While our government-sponsored buildings are closed, our parks (and beaches) are not. Old Saybrook has lots of open space for hiking and leisurely walks. Over the years, the town has been aggressive in acquiring open space: This spring will be a great time to discover new places. With less traffic on the roads, and the weather cooperating, now is a good time to get on the bicycle or walk on all our new sidewalks. Your dog will thank you.

We’re in uncharted territory, and the next few weeks, perhaps longer, will be challenging. I don’t know what the other side of the crisis looks like, but while we endure, have patience, check on your neighbors (especially those who may feel more isolated and the elderly), order lots of takeout to support our local restaurants, practice social distancing and good hygiene, and be aware of your own health so you can help others. And one more thing: Use less toilet paper.

Seriously, the day will come soon when you can go out to dinner with friends. But to get there, we need to be vigilant now. To all my fellow residents of Old Saybrook, stay safe. For information on COVID 19, call 211 or visit cdc.gov or dial 888-777 on your mobile device and enter “covid19OS” to receive daily updates.