Westmoreland courthouse offices limit visitors amid covid surge

As covid-19 cases continue to surge, Westmoreland officials said Tuesday that courthouse offices will scale back some public-facing services in an effort to mitigate the spread of infections.

County Commissioner Sean Kertes said that unlike the spring, when commissioners furloughed hundreds of workers and limited most courthouse functions, there will be no general closure orders issued at this time.

“We’re leaving it up to the row officers. Most of the public comes to those offices and not the ones under the commissioners,” Kertes said.

Row officers, starting this week, said they imposed restrictions but no staff cuts or major service reductions.

Clerk of Courts Bryan Kline, citing a coronavirus outbreak among some of his staff, instituted an appointment-only system for the public to conduct business that started on Tuesday. Regular criminal court filings by lawyers and judicial staffers will continue as normal, he said.

Courts will continue to operate as they have since this summer, according to court Administrator Amy DeMatt.

“We continue to mask, social distance and use video,” DeMatt said. “We also continue to assess.”

Jury trials resumed in August and were conducted in November. As of Tuesday afternoon, criminal trials were scheduled next week. But at least one judge has already postponed all cases set for December and others could follow suit, officials said.

Meanwhile, court-related offices will continue to operate with some alterations.

Prothonotary Christina O’Brien said her office will remain open for lawyers to file civil and family court documents but has indefinitely suspended passport services. The public is asked to submit documents by mail, she said.

“We’re one of the few offices in the courthouse that hasn’t had (coronavirus) cases and we want to keep it that way,” O’Brien said.

Over the last month, more than a dozen coronavirus cases among county staff at the courthouse has been confirmed, including an outbreak in the elections bureau offices that slowed vote counting following the Nov. 3 election. Officials said staffers from other county departments, temporarily assigned to the elections bureau, contributed to the virus spread when they returned to their regular jobs at the courthouse.

“It’s everywhere,” said Kertes, who quarantined at home for a week in November as one of his staffers awaited results of coronavirus test. Kertes did not contract the virus and is now back in the office.

He said he did not have an exact count of the number of courthouse works who are now in quarantine and referred that question to the county’s human resources office. Human Resources Director Alexis Bevan did not return multiple calls seeking comment.

Sheriff James Albert said on Tuesday he had 14 deputies and other staffers in quarantine.

“They are either out with covid or are close contacts,” Albert said.

Since spring, the sheriff’s office has required appointments for those seeking to apply for permits to carry concealed firearms. The appointment system will remain in place, he said.

Recorder of Deeds Frank Schiefer said that starting Thursday, his office will only allow the public to research and copy documents by appointments. A drop box will be used for documents that need to be filed.

“We’re just trying to limit foot traffic as best we can,” Schiefer said.

Treasurer Jared Squires and Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton said their offices, for now, will remain open with no additional restrictions.

“We will look at it every day,” Hamilton said of potential office restrictions.

Squires was informed late Tuesday that a staffer, who had not been to the courthouse since Nov. 25, had tested positive.