Dear Friends of Independence Harbor,
March 15, 2021
On February 25, 2021 Governor Baker announced the March 22, 2021 reopening of indoor event venues for groups of 100: “Provided public health metrics continue to improve, effective on March 22, all communities in Massachusetts will move into Step 1 of Phase IV of the state’s reopening plan. This will open a range of previously closed business sectors under tight capacity restrictions that are expected to be adjusted over time if favorable trends in the public health data continue.” His
announcement also noted that dance floors will be permitted at weddings and other events.
Subsequent to the Governor’s February 25 announcement, Independence Harbor submitted a request for a timeline of increasing capacities for wedding
venues beginning with the March 22, 2021 reopening date. The proposed timeline details event capacity increases of 25 persons at three-week intervals:
Phase "4" Proposed Reopening Projection for Professional Wedding and Event Venues
(Each step of Phase 4 is to last three weeks based on continued positive public health data. Negative public health data may require
adjustments to Phase 4 step intervals.)
Step 1, March 22, 2021, Indoor Gathering Maximum of 100 guests (as per Commonwealth's February 25, 2021 declaration)
Step 2, April 12, 2021, Indoor Gathering Maximum of 125 guests maximum or 60% venue capacity (whichever is lower)
Step 3, May 3, 2021, Indoor Gathering Maximum of 150 guests maximum or 70% venue capacity (whichever is lower)
Step 4, May 24, 2021, Indoor Gathering Maximum of 175 guests maximum or 80% venue capacity (whichever is lower)
Step 5, June 14, 2021 Indoor Gathering Maximum of 200 guests maximum or 90% venue capacity (whichever is lower)
Step 6, July 5, 2021 100% venue capacity
This timeline has been submitted to Lieutenant Governor Polito and to Secretary Michael Kennealy of the Department of Housing and Economic Development,
both co-chairs of the Reopening Advisory Board. The timeline has also been submitted to our Freetown State Legislators and to several other decision
makers. Approval and implementation of this timeline is requested to be commensurate with continued improvement of public health metrics. We are
hopeful for a quick and positive response to this timeline proposal or to a timeline proposal of like intent. We encourage our wedding couples
and anyone with interest in this matter to contact the "reopening decision makers" to act on this proposal.
We also anticipate that a gradual easing of pandemic restrictions may be forthcoming in response to the continued favorable trends in public health
data. Impressive decreases in Covid cases and hospitalizations since early January, and an ever-expanding distribution of vaccines is at last moving
us toward a resumption of normalcy. According to an announcement by President Biden on March 11, 2021 all American adults are to be made eligible
for Covid-19 vaccination by May1, 2021. Massachusetts has to date vaccinated 2.5 million adults. At the present rate of vaccination, and with further
improvements to the supply and delivery of vaccines, all American adults may indeed be vaccinated this Spring.
Since pandemic restrictions on our industry were first issued, we have repeatedly communicated our ability and commitment to stringently facilitate
the Commonwealth’s sector-specific reopening guidelines. Wedding and event venues and the restaurant industry in general have been held to high
standards relative to hygiene, sanitation, cleaning, food and alcohol safety, crowd control and more, far before the onset of the pandemic. We
have the ability, the will, and the resources to safely and responsibly operate at heightened levels of safety protocols and industry best practices.
We eagerly await a timely response to our timeline proposal and for the issuance of updated and less restrictive “Phase 4” reopening guidance from
the Commonwealth.
Sincerely, Brian Dunning
Owner/ General Manager
Independence Harbor Inc.