(9/2020) The 2020 fall equinox arrives in our area on September 22nd at 8:31 am EDT. With the start of the fall season comes the beginning of the flu season. Flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter months. As we have experienced in the past, the flu activity often begins to increase in October and November and usually peaks between December and February. It is going to be an "interesting time" as we enter the fall season. The question is what happens when influenza meets coronavirus? They seem to have similar on setting symptoms such as sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, and fever.

If you experience these symptoms, the question is which do I have? What should I do? Answer – pay attention to your body. Contact your physician. Remember, one may be more contagious – easily pass on to others. Please consider getting the appropriate (depending on age) flu shot and while you are at it, also get the pneumonia shot. Intuitively, it makes sense to me that wearing masks, practicing social distancing, working from home if you can, to minimize the spread of COVID-19 would lessen the transmission of other respiratory infectious diseases as well. Wish you and your family ‘Good Health’!

As the leaves fall, some residents may choose to burn their leaves, yard clippings, and tree trimmings rather than transporting them to a dumpsite. If you are planning to burn these items, please refer to the Carroll Valley Ordinance No. 6-2008, it addresses the burning of yard clippings and a recreation fire. Both are considered an open burn. Open burning is defined as the outdoor burning of any materials wherein products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber.

The ordinance does not prohibit recreational and incinerator burn fires in the borough. However, when performing an open burn of yard clippings, leaves, etc. are subject to the following conditions: (1) the burn takes place from dawn to dusk, (2) the fire is on your residential property and will remain on your premises with constant supervision and control for the duration of the burn, (3) the burn is further than 50 feet from an existing building or any paved portion of a public right of way.

The ordinance specifies items that are not allowed to be burned in the borough. Some of the not allowable items are any garbage, plastic, Styrofoam, cardboard boxes, and chemically treated lumber. Also, no persons, corporations, partnership/ association shall burn or permit to be burned, a structure of any size, or burn or permit to be burned, any material outside of a container with approved cover within Adams County unless first receiving a permit from the Adams County Department of Emergency Services at (717) 334-8101. To read the entire ordinance go to the CarrollValley.org website and perform a search on Open Burn.

This month the Borough will start the FY2021 Budget preparation. The starting process involves collecting and analyzing the 2020 budget revenue and expenditures to date and then comparing the results to the initial estimates. The results of the comparison determine the reasonableness of the forecasted values for the rest of the year and the initial values for the following year with planned adjustments. The draft 2021 budget is then prepared for the Finance Committee to review in detail and discuss any changes. Once the Finance Committee completes its review, the revised 2021 budget with recommendation(s) is presented to the Council for consideration.

A Joint Finance Committee and Council meeting is held to review the details of the 2021 budget and reach a consensus. After chances are implemented based on the joint budget meeting, the 2021 Budget is presented to the Council for approval to advertise the budget as a "Tentatively Approved Budget with Intent to Adopt". During this advertised period, the budget is made public for comment. Finally, the budget is presented to the Council with any changes for approval. The process starts in late August and ends in December.

During the pandemic, the Borough Office and services remain available to the residents via phone, email and as of May 11th in person. A sanitizing station is available in the lobby. Please wear your face mask when entering the Borough building. The Carroll Commons (the park) and walking trails are open. All play equipment in all parks are sanitized daily. The meetings for September are Finance Committee (Sept 8th) and Borough Council (Sep 15th). If you have any questions, please call 301-606-2021 or email MayorRonHarris@comcast.net. Keep well!