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Update on Town Operations

Posted on: March 17, 2020 - 4:54pm
town operations

On March 16, 2020, the Town declared a local state of emergency in response to the actions to be taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

On July 6, the beginning of phase III of the State's reopening plan, Town buildings, except for the Library and Senior Center, opened to the public. For specific departmental operational information see below (underneath phone list). Face coverings must be worn to enter any Town building and appointments are strongly encouraged. We do ask that you continue to use our on-line resources for on-line payment and contact us via email and telephone with any questions that you may have for us to the extent you are able. There is a drop box for bill payment next to the front entrance of Town Hall, as well.

We encourage everyone to closely follow information from the Massachusetts Department of Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Telephone numbers of frequently contacted departments:

Assessors:                               508-533-3203

Building Dept.:                         508-533-3253

Conservation:                          508-533-3292

Council on Aging:                    508-533-3210

Fire (business line):                 508-533-3211

Health Dept.:                           508-533-3206

Library:                                    508-533-3217

Police (business line):             508-533-3212

Parks & Rec:                           508-321-4740

Planning:                                 508-533-3291                                                 

Public Works:                          508-533-3275

Town Admin./Selectmen:        508-533-3264

Town Clerk:                             508-533-3204

Tax Collector:                          508-533-3205

Veterans’ Services:                 508-429-0629

Assessor’s Office

  • The Assessors’ Office will continue to process auto excise abatements. Documentation may be sent via USPS or emailed to Assessor@townofmedway.org.
  • Call the office or email with any questions regarding personal exemptions.
  • Real & Personal Property abatement requests will continue to be processed within the required 3-month timeframe.

Building Department

Collector’s Office

  • The Town’s online payment systems allow residents to pay real estate, personal property, motor vehicle excise taxes, water, sewer and trash bills online:

https://www.townofmedway.org/home/pages/find-it-fast   or

https://unipaygold.unibank.com/

  • The payment drop box continues to be available 24//7 outside the front entrance of Town Hall.
  • The Town also has a Lock Box at Charles River Bank. (ATM vestibule)
  •  You can continue to mail your payments to the Treasurer/Collector via US mail: 155 Village Street.  
  • Questions can be emailed to collector@townofmedway.org.

Council on Aging

  • Center Staff is available during regular business hours to answer any questions over the phone (508) 533-3210 or through email at SeniorCenter@townofmedway.org. The Center is closed to all residents until at least Monday, April 6th. This closing includes all day trips, social programs at the center, exercise classes and meals at the Oakland Café. If you need to go to the grocery store or to a medical appointment, please call the Center and we will do our best to try to make this possible.

Department of Public Works

  • Office: 508-533-3275   Emergency number (After Hours) 508-533-3212

      Email: dpwnotices@townofmedway.org

  • Final water/sewer billing for home closings and new customer account activation continue as normal.  Meter reads are taken remotely.
  • Pothole, road/sidewalk damage and tree damage can be reported as usual. 
  • Trash and recycling continue on schedule.  Questions should be directed to our office.
  • Permits and other applications on-line at https://www.townofmedway.org/department-public-works

Fire Department

  • Time-sensitive fire inspections will be completed, but please call 508-533-3211 to schedule an appointment.
  • Burn permit applications are available on the Police and Fire Depts’ webpages or use this link: https://www.townofmedway.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif12846/f/uploads/burn-permit_2020.pdf.  Please call Dispatch at 508-533-3209 to obtain your permit number.   Write the permit number on the application then scan or take a picture of the completed application and email it to amtingley@medwaypolice.com or mail it to the Medway Police Dept, 315 Village St, Medway, MA 02053, Attn: Chief Tingley.

Health Department

  • Board of Health staff are available by phone 1-508-533-3206 or email bhallal@townofmedway.org to answer any questions or concerns.
  • The Board of Health website allows the public to access applications.  When the application is completed it can be emailed or mailed.  The agent will review and get back to you.
  • Payment for the applications shall be mailed into the Board of Health office with a check or money order.
  • Inspection request for outside work will be performed upon request.
  • All inside residential inspections my not be performed until further notice.

Parks & Recreation

  • All recreation programming will be cancelled until further notice. We will be evaluating spring programming over the coming weeks.
  • Playgrounds are closed to the public until further notice. We have determined that play structures and park furniture are not sterile surfaces nor suitable locations for social distancing. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
  • Fields are closed until further notice.
  • The dog park is closed until further notice.
  • The Parks & Recreation office is not open to the public. Staff will answer e-mails (jharrington@townofmedway.org) and phone calls (508-321-4740).

Planning and Economic Development

  • We ask that you delay submitting permit applications for the near future. If that is not possible, please call or email to make an appointment to drop off an application package at Town Hall: planningboard@townofmedway.org
  • We plan to hold “remote participation” meetings for pressing matters using the ZOOM meeting platform. The public may not attend those meetings in person.  Instructions for citizen access to the meetings will be included in the meeting agendas posted at the Town’s web site. 

Police Department

  • Until further notice, we are asking citizens to avoid coming into the lobby of the police department, unless it is a case of an emergency. All station tours are postponed.
  • We will be temporarily allowing our officers to take reports over the phone for any issues or incidents that we feel would not require a visit to your home. Some examples could be neighbor disputes/civil matters, calls for advice, credit card/identity theft, and animal matters that are not a threat to public safety.
  • No citizen fingerprints will be taken at the station until further notice.
  • We are not accepting any food items for police until further notice.
  • If you have a situation that can be resolved over the phone by speaking with a police officer, please call our business line at 508-533-3212. Please continue to use 911 for all emergencies and medical calls.
  • Firearms, weapons and ammunition collection should be arranged by telephone.
  • We will not be handling any new pistol permit applications at this time, renewal applications can be submitted via the Medway Police Department website. The renewal application can be filled out and sent to the PD
  • Until further notice the drug/prescription kiosk and the needle/syringe kiosk will not be accessible until the station restrictions are lifted.
  • Until further notice individuals looking to obtain burning permits can print the burning permit application from the Medway Police website (https://www.townofmedway.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif12846/f/uploads/burn-permit_2020_0.pdf) and fill out the application, call the police dispatch and receive your permit number, write the permit number on the application form and mail or email the application form to the Medway Police Department, attention Chief Tingley, you may also take a picture of the finished application an email it to Chief Tingley at amtingley@medwyapolice.com.

Public Library

  • All library services are suspended, including interlibrary loans and home delivery of materials.
  • Visit http://medwaylib.org/ for the latest updates.
  • Online story times will begin soon.
  • Online resources and remote access through Libby, hoopla digital, and the research databases remain available.
  • The due dates for all materials will be extended into April and fines will not be charged on overdue materials.  Please do not return items to the library book drop.
  • If you have questions, please email the library at medway@minlib.net or call 508-533-3217.

Town Clerk’s Office

  • You may register to vote, update your address and/or party, update your name or check registration information by visiting the Secretary of State’s Online Voter Registration System: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/.
  • Town census forms should either be mailed or placed in the drop box at the front entrance of Town Hall.
  • The Town’s online payment systems allow residents to renew dog licenses:

https://nextpetls.gopetie.com/medway.massachusetts/login

  • For all other essential transactions, such as marriage licenses, please call the Town Clerk’s Office to schedule an appointment.

Essential Government Meetings

  • Only essential meetings are to take place, and will be done so remotely, in keeping with Governor Baker’s March 15, 2020 order limiting gatherings to 25 or less persons. Agendas will continue to be physically posted at Town Hall and on the Town’s website (www.townofmedway.org). Instructions will be included on each agenda so that the public may observe and participate in these meetings, as if they were in the audience.

Miscellaneous

  • The Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued guidance on March 15, 2020 that authorizes licensed pharmacies to create and sell hand sanitizer over the counter. Please contact your local pharmacy to inquire if they have availability.
  • The food pantries at the Village Church (508-533-6401) and at Mahan Circle (508-533-2434) are open. They are need of non-perishable items, including but not limited to cereal, boxed milk, tomato sauce, snacks for children, baking goods (i.e. flour, sugar, etc.) as well as personal care items.
  • The MBTA and Keolis announced a Reduced Service Schedule effective Tuesday, March 17. For more information, please visit www.MBTA.com/coronavirus.

As a reminder:

Take every day precautionary actions to avoid the spread of respiratory viruses like the flu and COVID-19, such as washing your hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and warm water (or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available), avoiding people who are sick, avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue. People who are sick should stay home and not go into crowded public places or visit people in hospitals.