Bristol’s pandemic-related emergency order expired on Aug. 18, and at the July 28 Bristol Town Council meeting, Administrator Steven Contente said he would not be seeking to extend it.

“I think this is hopefully a harbinger of phenomenal news, when an executive order is unnecessary for day to day activities,” said Council Chairman Nathan Calouro. “I think this is outstanding, and I hope this continues.”

There are, however, two effects of the order that will be extended, at least for now.

Beach privileges

At the July 28 meeting, Mr. Contente requested Warren students be given resident rates to access the Bristol Town Beach — something that had been permitted under the emergency order.

“This is something that we did this summer, relative to the emergency order,” said Mr. Contente. “My hope is that the Council would perhaps consider extending this.” He noted that given the regionalized school district, students have friends in both communities, and out-of-town fees can mount up for families whose kids want to get together at the other town’s facilities. “This was a way for us to connect the kids that go to school together, and my hope is Warren would reciprocate.”

Resident rates for the Bristol Town Beach are $5 daily or $10 on the weekend.

While the Council agreed to hold the current fee structure through the remainder of the season, they were reluctant to make the change permanent, but put it on the February 2022 agenda for further consideration.

Outdoor dining into January

The expiration of the emergency order would effectively end outdoor dining for the restaurants which are utilizing public spaces for that — notably the ones along the north side of lower State Street. For those establishments, and their guests who enjoy streetside dining, an extension should come in the nick of time. The Aug. 18 Town Council meeting (occurring after press time) was expected to include a second reading and vote on an amendment to the existing ordinance allowing those temporary dining areas to remain in place until January 2022. The measure is expected to pass.

This is different from the state executive order that is permitting outdoor dining expansion to continue into April 2022; that measure pertains to private property, a local example of which is the Portside Tavern’s expansion to the outdoor deck constructed on their parking area. If the Governor does not extend that executive order in April, businesses who have been able to take advantage of that opportunity will need to apply to local boards for the appropriate permits to continue those operations.