Some government services, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles satellite office in Saranac Lake and all Essex County buses, are closed until further notice.

The decisions came after Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday, March 16 directed all municipal governments to let their non-essential workforce stay home, and to work toward a minimum 50% office occupancy reduction. In the hours after the governor’s directive, county and local governments around the region started formulating plans for how they would continue to offer residents essential services remotely or with reduced staffing.

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Lake Placid, North Elba

The Lake Placid village and North Elba town courts are suspending their regular sessions until May 1, town and village Justice Dean Dietrich announced Monday evening.

“If you were directed to appear in Court during this time period you will not be penalized for your failure to attend,” Dietrich wrote in an email to the News. “You should contact your attorney regarding your next scheduled appearance date. If your case does not involve an attorney call the Town Court Clerk … or the Village Court Clerk.”

The North Elba Town Hall was closed to walk-in traffic effective Wednesday, March 18. That includes town and Lake Placid village offices and courts. The village police department in the back of the town hall is still open to walk-ins.

Recycling services are also canceled. Payments may be made by mail to 2693 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 12946.

Departments will be available by phone:

¯ Town of North Elba, 518-523-9516

¯ Town court, 518-523-2141

¯ Village of Lake Placid, 518-523-2597

¯ Village Court, 518-523-2004.

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Keene

The Keene Town Hall will be closed to the public, town Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson Jr. said Monday.

“We’re forwarding calls to one of the clerk’s homes so we can continue to monitor our phone,” he said. “We’re working to keep our essential services (water plant, transfer station) open. We’re doing everything we can to meet the governor’s recommendations and to keep our workforce and our population safe.”

The town’s highway department will be working on split shifts.

The Keene Public Library is closed. The Keene Community Center is also closed.

The Little Peaks Preschool, which operates out of the community center, is also now closed. Director Katherine Brown said the preschool’s schedule is tied to Keene Central School’s schedule, and when the school announced Sunday that it would close its doors temporarily until April 20, the preschool also closed.

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Wilmington

Wilmington town Supervisor Roy Holzer said Monday that the town is still working on a plan for meeting the governor’s directive.