Lower Burrell suspends rentals of Burrell Lake’s Fisher Hall because of covid-19 restrictions

Lower Burrell Council has suspended rentals of Burrell Lake’s Fisher Hall for October, and possibly longer, because of covid-19 restrictions.

The closure is part of a string of shutterings of some venues across the country for weddings, showers and other events. While a number of facilities remain open, shifting state and local pandemic restrictions vary.

Although the city receives $20 an hour for rental of the hall, the complications and risks of renting the facility are not worth it, council members said.

Earlier in the year, when state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines restricted public gatherings, the city closed its parks. When the number of covid-19 cases declined in the summer, Gov. Tom Wolf loosened restrictions for gatherings and the city reopened its parks and facilities.

With the public booking Fisher Hall, a city-owned small banquet hall with a 75-person capacity, the city has decided to close it for rentals for October and possibly November and beyond.

“When we realized there were bookings, we had to balance the public health risks against the rewards,” Councilman Chris Fabry said.

There were about three events booked at the hall for October, which has been a popular place to hold weddings, showers and other small events, city officials said.

“We are temporarily restricting use of the building following the governor’s orders for limits of gatherings to 25 people,” said Councilwoman Rosina Albanese, who heads up the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee. “We have to be fair to everyone.”

The city doesn’t want to use police to check to make sure there are no more than 25 people at Fisher Hall events, Albanese added.

Patrons with reservations for Fisher Hall have been notified that the facility could also be closed in November.