If all goes well, outdoor dining opens here next week. That’s thank in part to advocacy on the part of local officials in communities around the state who have been raising the issue with state officials for weeks.
Here on Shelter Island, the team leading the COVID-19 response — Supervisor Gerry Siller, Deputy Supervisor Amber Brach Williams and Police Chief James Read — have been in regular contact with their peers in municipal and county government on all issues relating to the pandemic.
In their weekly updates to the community, they’ve stressed that these critical connections help them identify common problems and then through collective messaging amplify advocacy on select issues so as to actually influence policy at the state level.
Weeks ago, the Town identified the ban on outdoor dining as a particularly bitter pill for businesses here. The same was true for businesses all around the state, and the combined advocacy seems to have made a difference.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday that outdoor dining would be permitted in phase two of the state’s prescribed reopening sequence, instead of later as originally planned. Of course, there are caveats (see below).
Food service establishments are expected to have plans in place to show how they’ll meet the guidelines. Here on Shelter Island, complaints about outdoor dining at local eateries will be handled by the Building Department and code enforcer, not the police, Supervisor Siller said.
Guidelines outdoor dining
These guidelines are from the New York State Reopening New York website. You can find full details at https://forward.ny.gov.
They apply to all restaurants and food services establishments, including food trucks and other food concessions, in regions that have reached phase two. The Long Island region is expected to enter phase two starting Wednesday, June 10.
As they begin to offer outdoor dining, eateries that have been functioning strictly as takeout/delivery establishments will be bringing back more staff. That means increasing interactions not just with dining patrons, but also among kitchen staff. So some of the guidelines have to do with re-arranging kitchens and other back of house operations that patrons won’t likely see, but are essential for being able to reopening safely.
For example, eateries must ensure at distance of at least 6 feet among workers at all times, unless the core activity requires a shorter distance (e.g. cooking, cleaning, clearing tables). Whatever was working when there was no waitstaff present, might not work when they return. Workflows may have to be rearranged so that all employees can maintain safe distancing.
Other rules apply to interactions with patrons, who should be prepared for these changes:
- wearing a mask when not seated at a table (and even then, being asked to keep it on except when eating or drinking) — this applies to everyone over age 2, unless medically incapable of wearing one
- sitting at tables placed 6 feet apart (and 6 feet from any other seat, patron or pedestrian area)
- parties sitting by reservation only (and in your party of no more than 10 people)
- being encouraged to place and pay for your order before arrival
- finding indoor access to restrooms and/or payment areas rearranged to allow for mandatory social distancing
We’ll be checking in with Shelter Island’s restaurants and other eateries that have outdoor dining options to find out how they’re preparing for phase two. Meantime, find out what’s open for takeout/delivery in this Gazette post.
