At Thursday’s Shawangunk Town Board meeting, Chief of Police Gerald Marlatt announced that his department has been regularly fielding questions from the New York State on PAUSE hotline regarding social distancing violations.

When someone feels that there is a violation of New York State on PAUSE in a residential or commercial setting, they can contact the New York State on PAUSE enforcement bureau. That referral is sent to the county before it is sent to a local agency to investigate the infraction.

When the Town of Shawangunk Police Department has found a complaint to be accurate, they have provided businesses with a copy of it. The department educates the business owner on the governor’s order, telling employees to wear masks and stay six-feet apart.

Marlatt noted that the health department was sent out to Cobblestone Quik-Mart in Walker Valley after several complaints had been filed. Since the health department was called, the business has complied with the executive order.

At Thursday’s meeting Shawangunk Town Supervisor John Valk Jr. announced that the town board needs to develop a pandemic plan for town employees. This will outline a response plan for when town employees test positive for COVID-19. Valk is in the process of developing the pandemic plan along with feedback from the town board. The plan will be discussed at the town board meeting on Jan. 21.

“We have to have it for the unions by Feb. 4 for their review...,” Valk said. “ Probably what I’m gonna do is email you, so if anyone has any comments get them back to me so we can have something pretty well in place with all our ideas by next meeting.”

Valk added that the town has until April 1 to adopt the plan.

In addition, the Vision of Wallkill announced its annual Sparkle and Shine awards to the winners of the town’s holiday decorating contest. My Father Sam’s Barbershop won first place for the business category and Hudson Valley Chocolates placed second. In the residence category, the Lee’s finished third and the Tranter family earned second place. The MacEntee family took home first place in the residence category.