Good evening all,

Vermont is starting to reopen, and announcements continue to come quickly and often without as much detail as we might like. The best place to hear about changes are the governor’s three times a week press conferences. On Wednesday the Governor put forward a big economic relief proposal, specifically targeting small business, tourism sector, restaurants and dairy farms. A large marketing campaign is proposed to focus on instate tourism, a signal that the return of welcoming weekend guests is still a ways off.

Below you will find information about new restaurant outdoor dining guidelines and how lodging providers can calculate occupancy. Links to the Governor’s proposal also include a series of webinars for specific sectors. A word of caution on the proposed package – the legislature will likely make some changes and need to sign off on the plan.

As we begin to adjust and modify and slowly reopen, I will be looking to continue to provide updates on changes, and a forum for folks in our district to gather and ask questions and provide feedback on the reopening.

For the past ten weeks as this emergency has unfolded, I have been trying to help folks keep up by writing email updates three times a week (52 emails total) and meeting with constituents three times a week. Starting next week I am going to try and move towards a modified email communication and forum schedule. My plan is to move towards a single weekly regular communication on Friday evenings and coffee hours on Wednesdays at 5:30 pm. If there are major announcements I will send that news out separately as I have done in the past. Thank you for all those who have participated and enriched these forums

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Eager to travel outside Vermont? Here’s what you can expect in neighboring states

Scribbled notes capture early Vermont response to COVID-19 pandemic

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Restaurants – Outdoor Dining (effective 5/22)

• Reservations or call ahead seating is required.
• Ordering via phone or electronic means is preferred.
• Takeout service rather than table side delivery of food is preferred.
• Cashless/touch-less transactions are strongly preferred.
• Tables must be spaced a minimum of 10 feet apart.
• Members of only 2 households and 10 total people may be seated at the same table.
• Operators must limit the total number of customers served/seated at one time to 50 or their maximum licensed seating capacity, whichever is less.
• Disposable menus are required.
• Disposable/single use condiment packets are encouraged. Multi-use condiments and all other items for general use must be cleaned and sanitized between customers.
• Operators must maintain an easily accessible log of customers and their contact information for 30 days in the event contact tracing is required by the Health Department.

Calculator: Maximum Retail Occupant Load During COVID-19

Non-essential retail operations are limited to 25% of approved fire safety occupancy; or 1 customer per 200 square feet; or 10 total customers and staff combined, whichever is greater. Operators must post their temporary occupancy limit, and which method was used to determine it, prominently on all entrances.

To assist with the posting of this information, please refer to the Maximum Retail Occupant Load calculator and “Limited Capacity Permitted” poster.

Certificate of Compliance for Guests of Lodging, Campgrounds, and Other Accommodations

As part of the guidance to lodging, campgrounds, and other accommodations, operators may require a copy of a Vermont drivers license or a signed document from the guest(s) attesting they meet the quarantine requirement. Please note that this is a draft document (May 15, 2020), and an updated, final document will be provided prior to May 22, 2022.

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Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions, or if you need assistance navigating government services at (802) 384-0233 or lsibilia@leg.state.vt.us 

Kind regards, 

Rep. Laura Sibilia 
Dover, Readsboro, Searsburg, Somerset, Stamford, Wardsboro, Whitingham