Simple solutions for COVID Safety

To the Select Board:
At the Select Board meeting of 12/29, too much time was occupied with trying to make an unworkable situation at Sawyer Hall workable. Perhaps the strategy was to make it clear that some issues simply can’t be resolved. But the effect of the discussion was to put a lot of time and energy for over an hour and a half suggesting ideas that were problematic from the outset instead of evaluating other options. All the discussion dealt with closing-but-not-closing the offices in Sawyer Hall and focusing on specific details, ignoring the fact that all the ideas offered did not deal with the major issue: that access to Sawyer Hall is problematic and that it does not have adequate facilities to continue to be operated during COVID.
     It seems to me that there is a very simple solution: Close the Town Hall entirely for all town use except for the Post Office and the Library. 
That way there will be no issue of anyone having to enter the building except for the entryway for the post office. No one would need or want to go beyond the post office entry, and therefore no ticketing will be necessary. The library is already closed for visitors, given its window for book pick-up.
    All other town functions (including [internal/committee mail] delivery and pick-up) that cannot be done from home should be moved to 18 Jacobs Road.
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On a final note: All reliable forecasts about the length of time we will need to be vigilant indicate that it will be many months before the two-dose vaccinations will have been administered to everyone requesting one. Already it has been announced today that Franklin County has received fewer vaccine doses per capita than any other county. Our rural character obviously will put us well down the list of vaccine distribution. We should not let down our guard.
 
I support the creation of a speedy plan of how to utilize space at 18 Jacobs Road so that the Select Board can act forthwith.
 
Margaret H. Freeman