COVID-19 Information and Updates
- Latest Update
- Municipal Services
- Emergency Ordinance
- Masks/Face Coverings
- COVID-19 Resources
- COVID-19 Testing
- Translated Materials
Latest Winooski Update - Friday, 7.10.20
- Sign up for our email updates
- Continue to follow the Vermont Department of Health: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19
Mayor’s Update
Hi Winooski. We continue to see low numbers of positive community cases of COVID-19 so I’d like to thank everyone for wearing masks, getting tested, and generally protecting each other by following health guidelines.
Speaking of masks, we’ve got many amazing educational resources for wearing masks and face coverings. View here: https://winooskivt.gov/masks. Volunteer Mask Makers are needed! We’ve partnered with Vermont Teddy Bear on their mask-making initiative – they will supply you with a kit of cut fabric and elastic, at-home makers only need a sewing machine and thread. Once completed, volunteers can drop their sewn masks off in the book return at the Winooski Memorial Library. A portion of the donated masks will stay right here in Winooski to support our community! If you are interested in being a Volunteer Home Mask Maker, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Olivia Miller: volunteer@winooskivt.gov / 802 655 1392 - please leave your name and contact information.
Visiting the Winooski Food Shelf? Cloth masks can be picked up for free. The Winooski Food Shelf is located on 24 West Allen Street within the United Methodist Church. Stop by on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month from 2 - 4 PM and on Saturdays from 9:30 - 11 AM.
While cases of COVID-19 may have slowed in Vermont, the virus is still a very real concern around the country. We must keep up our good efforts for some time to come. Pop-up testing for people without symptoms continues in Winooski, please take advantage of these opportunities. Folks with symptoms should call their doctor instead. Learn more and sign up at https://humanresources.vermont.gov/winooski.
The pandemic is still having very real impacts on our health and well-being. If you need help with housing, financial assistance, unemployment, or health and safety, the State of Vermont may have resources that can help you through this tough time. Visit https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/individuals or call 211 on your phone to get connected. It never hurts to try. The state legislature also recently announced a program to support folks who may be at risk of foreclosure or eviction due to unpaid rent or mortgage. At our last City Council meeting, we discussed how to locally support folks to ensure they’re getting connected to resources before eviction or foreclosure happens so we will work to share out the details of the state program once they are available. If you are struggling, we encourage you to contact your landlord or lender to see what leniency they can offer.
At the last City Council meeting, we also set the tax rate and due dates for the fiscal year 2021. When voters passed the city budget on Town Meeting Day back in March, we were projecting a municipal tax increase of 2.45%. I am pleased to share that due to growth in our overall property values, including new developments on East Allen Street and property investment at VT CBD Laboratories on Elm Street, the municipal tax rate will increase only 1.45% this year – about $37 a year per homes valued at $225,000. Note that due to the Vermont State tax filing deadline extension to July 15, Winooski will not mail the first quarter’s tax bill until August this year and the bill will not be due until September 7. The remaining quarters for the year will be due on the regular schedule on the 15th of November, February, and May. You can access the council meeting agenda and related documents here: https://www.winooskivt.gov/AgendaCenter.
In other news, the Winooski Charter Commission recently hosted a question and answer session on Channel 17 about their effort to examine options to present Winooski voters with a charter change that would enable non-citizen residents to vote in Winooski municipal elections. This is a very important discussion for our community, so please watch the recording and share your thoughts with commission members. Recording and contacts can be found here: https://www.winooskivt.gov/1387/Charter-Commission.
As a reminder, we always want to hear from you on any topic of interest in our city. Remote City Council and commission meetings continue online and by phone. I am also hosting an informal virtual meeting at 5:30 PM on Thursdays where anyone is welcome to pop in and ask questions or share your thoughts.
Mayor Kristine Lott’s Weekly Discussion
- Attend online: https://zoom.us/j/96685420795
- Attend by phone: 646 558 8656
- Meeting ID: 966 8542 0795
I’m also always available by email, feel free to reach out any time.
Mayor Kristine Lott - klott@winooskivt.gov
Previous Updates
Video Updates
Service Changes
City Hall to Open – July 13th
The City of Winooski is following up-to-date guidance from the CDC and the State of Vermont to reopen a number of municipal services. The City has continued to provide essential services throughout the pandemic. We are pleased to be able to open more services and are thankful to residents for following public health guidelines and slowing the spread of COVID-19.
City Hall/City Clerk’s Office - Starting July 13, City Hall will reopen to the public between the hours of 9 AM and 3 PM where:
- members of the public will be required to wear masks when in City Hall and masks will be available for those without them
- stanchions, dividers, and standing points will be installed in the lobby of City Hall to facilitate a socially distanced line that may be extended outdoors if needed
- a log of all individuals coming to City Hall will be maintained by the City Clerk’s Office
- the land records vault will remain open by appointment only (call 802 655 6410 to schedule)
- a maximum of two individuals will be allowed in the vault at a time
- to meet space guidance, no more than ten staff will be present at any one time
- we encourage residents to do as much business on-line as possible
Police, Fire, and Public Works - Services remain fully operational.
City Council, Boards, Commissions, and Committees – Public meetings will continue remotely/virtually via Zoom for the foreseeable future. Participation information is shared with each meeting warning. If you plan to participate, please view our recently updated Remote Meeting Procedures. If you wish to make a public comment, fill out our Public Comment Request Form.
Parking and Code Enforcement – Parking enforcement will begin on July 6th with two weeks of public education to be followed by enforcement. We encourage people to use the ParkMobile app as much as possible. Parking kiosks will be sanitized daily.
Utility Disconnections – All disconnections due to utility non-payments are canceled for the quarter.
Code Enforcement Residential and Commercial Inspections – Following public health guidance, we plan to restart inspections in the Fall. Housing complaints will continue to be processed.
Zoning Permit Application Submission – To the extent possible, applications for zoning permits including any supporting documents should be sent via email to evorwald@winooskivt.gov. The required application fee will be calculated after the application is received to ensure accurate payment information is identified. The applicant will be notified of the fee and payment options once the application is reviewed. If applications cannot be sent via email, they can be dropped off using the drop box or window at City Hall. Please put the application in an envelope with the words “Zoning Permit Application” on the outside. Properties will continue to be posted for the required 15-day appeal period by the City and zoning permits will be sent to the applicant once it is issued. Questions about applications or submission requirements can be directed to Eric Vorwald, at evorwald@winooskivt.gov.
Building Permit Application Submission – To the extent possible, applications for building permits, including any supporting documents should be sent via email to lkeating@winooskivt.gov. If applications cannot be sent via email, they can be dropped off using the drop box or window at City Hall. Please put the application in an envelope with the words “Building Permit Application” on the outside. The application will be reviewed to ensure complete information is provided. The applicant will be contacted if additional information is needed or to indicate the status of the permit. Once a building permit is approved, the applicant will be contacted to indicate start of construction. The permit card will be sent to the property owner for posting at the property. Questions related to the application or submission requirements can be directed to Captain Liam Keating at lkeating@winooskivt.gov.
Winooski Memorial Library – At this time the Library is closed to the public. We are providing curbside or home delivery services. To request items, please call 802 655 6424 or email the Library: winooskilibrary@winooskivt.gov
Thrive Summer Program – Thrive will start operations at the Winooski School District on July 6th with explicit guidance from the Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Education.
Public Parks - Following State guidance, parks are open for safe, responsible use. As always, if you are feeling sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick, please stay home to help keep your neighbors healthy! Also, it is important to remember that physical distancing (maintaining 6 feet of space from people outside your immediate household) and maintaining small group sizes are recommended. We encourage park users to follow the "Arrive. Play. Leave." approach when using our parks, and ask users not to congregate or gather before or after activities, especially in our parking areas. A few parks restrictions remain:
- The softball field is "open" for informal use by groups of 10 or fewer, however no leagues or organized events will be occurring at this time.
- We will not be installing portalets at Landry Park at this time due to challenges with sanitation, so please plan accordingly.
- Our Community Garden program is open for the season, and gardeners are asked to limit group sizes to 10 or less, observe physical distancing when gardening, and wear a mask when in the garden with others. We will not provide access to shared tools this year, so gardeners are asked to bring their own tools as needed.
The City’s many parks and trails remain open, however, the need for courtesy and respect among users is even more important during this pandemic than it is in normal times. Please refrain from gathering or congregating at parking areas or trailheads, and please give each other plenty of space (including on our trails), whether masks and other protective measures are utilized or not. Lastly, per City ordinance, please keep dogs on leashes at all times when they are in public places.
On Monday, June 15, 2020 Winooski City Council approved a resolution that extended and amended the ordinance (Chapter 30 - Emergency Ordinances - needs replacement) originally adopted April 20 to ease the financial burden for residents and businesses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Utility payers who cannot pay their utility payments due to COVID-19 may find relief in the adopted provisions.
You do not need to demonstrate proof of financial hardship to utilize any of these new due dates. It is assumed that all late payments for Quarter 4 are a result of COVID-19. With that in mind, we are asking that if you can, please pay on schedule. This enables the City and School to continue to provide essential services such as public works, public safety, and education services. If you previously have signed up for direct debit and need to make a change, please contact City Hall at 802 655 6410 between 7:30 and 4:30 Monday to Friday or email our Finance Director, Angela Aldieri: aaldieri@winooskivt.gov.
Remember, all payments can be made online at winooskivt.gov/pay
Water and Sewer Payments
- All penalty and interest payments on late water and sewer charges from FY20 Quarter 4 will not start accruing until July 15, 2020, 30 days from the previously extended due date (June 15, 2020.)
Tax Sales
- All tax sale processes for COVID-19 non-property tax payment in Quarter 4 will be suspended immediately and through June 30, 2021.
For more information on this Emergency Ordinance,
- Click here to view the resolution
- Click here to view the enacted ordinance
- Call the City Clerk’s Office with questions about your utility bill or property taxes: 802 655 6410
- Email the Finance Director, Angela Aldieri, with questions about this Emergency Ordinance: aaldieri@winooskivt.gov
- And always feel free to reach out to the City Manager or Mayor:
- Jessie Baker, City Manager, jbaker@winooskivt.gov
- Kristine Lott, Mayor, mayor@winooskivt.gov
The City of Winooski strongly encourages all of our residents and visitors to wear a mask or face covering when you’re not at home. This simple, thoughtful, and selfless act shows that you care about your neighbors. Governor Phil Scott and The Vermont Department of Health continue to ask all Vermonters to wear a mask or face covering whenever you are not at home. This includes inside any public building and outside whenever you are within 6’ of another person.
Data shows that wearing a mask or face covering slows the spread of COVID-19, especially before a person has any symptoms. A mask or face covering protects other people around you.
“Wearing a mask to protect others shows strength, not weakness. Please continue to follow guidance from the Department of Health to help slow the spread. We’re still fighting this pandemic, and it takes all of us working together and caring for one another.” - Governor Phil Scott
Please see the following resources for mask and face covering guidance:
CDC Resources
- Signage for Open Buildings: Please Wear a Face Covering Signage
- About Cloth Face Coverings
- Making Cloth Face Coverings
- Wearing Cloth Face Coverings
- Washing Cloth Face Coverings
- How to Safely Wear and Take Off a Cloth Face Covering
- Recommendations
- How to make your own cloth face covering - Dr. Jerome Adams, U.S. Surgeon General
Vermont Department of Health Documents and Signage
- Face Coverings for Children
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, children ages 2 and older should wear a face covering in settings where they cannot keep a distance of 6 feet away from others. We can help children understand how to protect one another and make face coverings part of our daily routine so that play, learning, and other activities can be as safe as possible.
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Karen | Kirundi | Lingala | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese
- Using Cloth Face Coverings to Slow the Spread of COVID-19
Arabic | Burmese | Chinese | English | French | Kirundi | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese
- I’ll Protect You, You Protect Me
Arabic | Burmese | Chinese | English | French | Kirundi | Nepali |Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese
Mask Signage for Reopening Businesses
The City of Winooski is recommending that any business following the State’s "Restart Vermont" guidelines use the following signage to avoid confusion regarding the use of masks and facial coverings:
- Masks Required Poster
- Please Wear a Cloth Face Covering
- Workplace Safety Guidelines
- Restart Vermont Signage
Vermont Multilingual Task Force Videos
- Masks: Why we Wear Them, How to Make/Take Care of Them
Arabic | ASL | Bosnian | Burmese | French | Kirundi | Maay Maay | Nepali |Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese
Other Helpful Resources
- PSA: Cover smart. Do your part. Slow the spread.
- PSA: Prevent COVID-19: Wear a Cloth Face Covering
- How to Sew a Fabric Face Mask- New York Times
- Coronavirus: Which Mask Should You Wear?
Local Mask Making Initiative
The City of Winooski is partnering with Vermont Teddy Bear to support their goal of creating 125,000 cloth masks for Vermonters - we need your help! Volunteer Home Mask Makers are needed to make re-usable fabric masks. Vermont Teddy Bear will supply you with a kit of cut fabric and elastic, at-home makers will only need a sewing machine and thread. Once completed, volunteers can drop their sewn masks off in the book return at the Winooski Memorial Library. A portion of the donated masks will stay right here in Winooski to support our community! If you are interested in being a Volunteer Home Mask Maker, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Olivia Miller: volunteer@winooskivt.gov / 802 655 1392 - please leave your name and contact information.
Health and Safety
- Center for Disease Control
- VT Department of Health
- UVM Health Network
- Vermont211.org or Dial 211
- Coping with COVID-19
- Substance Abuse Help
- Local Mental Health Support
- 802 488 7778 - select Winooski extension
Translation/New American Resources
- Vermont Department of Health Translations
- Multilingual Coronavirus Task Force Videos
- AALV
- CVOEO: How to Get Financial Help
- Green Mountain Bhutanese Organization
- Multilingual Coronavirus Task Force Videos
- New Americans in Vermont
- US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants - Vermont Office
- UVM Medical Center
Governor’s Office
School District
Food
- 3SquaresVT
- Hunger Free Vermont
- Meals on Wheels
- Winooski School District Meals
- Winooski Food Shelf
- WIC
- Vermont Food Bank
Family
- Childcare for Essential Persons
- Family First COVID-19 Act
- Community Services Remote Resources
- VTDH: Schools and Child Care Resources
Seniors
- Age Well
- AARP
- CDC Guidance
- Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
- Meals on Wheels
- Winooski Senior Center Remote Resources
Businesses
- Agency of Commerce and Community Development
- Federal Assistance
- Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce
- VTDH: Businesses and Employees
- Small Business Guidance & Loans
- Support Winooski Businesses
- Winooski Business Portal
- Winooski Small Business Loan Fund COVID-19 Relief Loans
Employment
- Department of Vermont Health Access Benefits
- Federal Stimulus and Tax Information
- Social Security Recipients
- Vermont Department of Labor
- VTDH: Businesses and Employees
- Vermont Health Connect
- Vermont Legal Aid Information and Resources
Homeowners, Renters, and Landlords
Vermont Department of Health Information Pages
Other Pages, Signage, and Documents
- COVID-19 Prevention in Apartment Buildings
- CDC Guidance for Congregate Living Settings
- CDC’s Guidance on Disinfection for SARS-CoV-2
- EPA’s Approved Disinfectants for SARS-CoV-2
- CDC’s Guidance for Cleaning & Disinfecting Your Facility
- Tips for Large Households or Extended Families Living in the Same Space
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese
I’ll protect you, you protect me
Arabic | Burmese | Chinese | English | French | Kirundi | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese
- Stop the Spread of Germs (CDC)
- Keep Germs from Spreading (VDH)
- Proper Handwashing
- Signs & Symbols - A collection of signs and symbols to help communicate interactions.
- Social Distancing
Volunteer
Testing Continues in Winooski for the Remainder of July
The Vermont Department of Health, in partnership with Community Health Centers of Burlington, continues to offer COVID-19 testing in Winooski for the remainder of July. Testing is free and available to anyone - these tests are for people without symptoms. People with symptoms should call their doctors. The test will tell you if you have a current infection. It is not a serology/antibody test, which means it will not tell you if you were infected in the past. Children under the age of 12 months cannot be tested. The City of Winooski encourages anyone without symptoms to take advantage of these testing opportunities.
- Mon. 7/13/20 / 9 AM - 3 PM at the O’Brien Community Center - Click here to register*
- Tues. 7/14/20 / 9 AM - 3 PM at the O’Brien Community Center - WALK-UP ONLY
- Mon. 7/20/20 / 1 PM - 7 PM at the O’Brien Community Center - Click here to register*
- Tues. 7/21/20 / 1 PM - 7 PM at the O’Brien Community Center - WALK-UP ONLY
- Testing will also available in Burlington and Essex.
For registration help in English, call 802 828 2828 or 2-1-1. For registration help in other languages, Call 802 503 5402 or 802 355 0795. Interpreters will be provided at all Winooski events.
Getting Tested for COVID-19
Arabic | Burmese | French | Kirundi | Maay Maay | Nepali | Somali | Swahili | Spanish | Vietnamese
Contact Tracing: What it is and Why it is Important
Arabic | Burmese | French | Kirundi | Maay Maay | Nepali | Somali | Swahili | Spanish | Vietnamese
Understanding Your COVID-19 Test Results
Arabic | Burmese | Chinese | English | French | Karen | Kirundi | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese
*The Vermont Department of Health is aware of an email error in the registration system regarding signing up multiple people at once (in reference to "attendee emails" - the system will only allow that email to be added once per event). If you need assistance with this error, registrants can Call 2-1-1 or 802 828 2828 for registration assistance or use a fake attendee email for the other family members.
Vermont Multilingual Task Force Videos
العربية | Bosanski | မြန်မာစာ | Español | Kirundi | Français | Maay Maay | Swahili | नेपाली
Tiếng Việt
New Americans in Vermont
العربية | ASL | Bosanski | မြန်မာစာ | Dinka | Español | Français | ကညီကျိ | Kirundi | Lingala
Maay Maay | नेपाली | Soomaali | Swahili | Tiếng Việt
Vermont Department of Health Documents
Vermont Legal Aid Resources
- COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments
Arabic | Burmese | English | French | Kirundi | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili - Unemployment Benefits
Arabic | Burmese | English | French | Kirundi | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
- How to Get Financial Help
Arabic | Burmese/Keran | French | Nepali | Somali/Mai Mai | Swahili