<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;line-height:115%"><b><u>LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS AND NOTICES</u></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="color:black">Easton Officials Provide Important Information about Novel Coronavirus<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:black;background:white">The Town of Easton has consolidated all of its press releases and public health guidance and directives into one central webpage for ease of use. Our dedicated page,
</span><a href="http://www.easton.ma.us/covid-19"><span style="background:white">www.easton.ma.us/covid-19</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white">, includes daily confirmed case counts, local, state, and national health guidance, contact information
for our information line, municipal service info, and many other helpful resources. Please also follow us on
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/townofeastonma/"><span style="background:white">Facebook</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white"> and
</span><a href="https://twitter.com/townofeaston"><span style="background:white">Twitter
</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white">for important updates and information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span style="color:black;background:white">Stay Home, Save Lives<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:black;background:white">Town officials continue to stress that the next few weeks are critical in our efforts to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19. Please continue to heed the advisories
from the Governor and public health officials to stay at home, practice aggressive social distancing (keeping 6 feet away from others), and only perform necessary tasks like grocery shopping, picking up medication, and safely checking in with family and neighbors
who may need assistance. It is vitally important for residents to stop congregating outside, stop group play and team sports at parks, and to take these critical public safety messages seriously. What you do today will have a dramatic impact on cases we see
next week and month. Taking action now is doing our part to slow the spread of the virus, to reduce the number of people infected and to avoid overwhelming our first responders and our health care system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Status of Town Services</span></strong><span style="color:black"><br>
<span style="background:white">In keeping with the Governor’s continued emergency actions closing schools until May 4, limiting gatherings, and many more efforts to maximize social distancing and reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Town Offices and Frothingham
Hall are to remain closed to the public until at least May 4, 2020. All departments are working remotely and are reachable during regular business hours via telephone, email, or US mail. Town department contact information and the status of municipal services
during the COVID-19 State of Emergency can be accessed </span></span><a href="https://www.easton.ma.us/easton_residents/about_easton/contact_us.php"><span style="color:#0B7BC0;background:white">here</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white">. To
review the Town of Easton Interim Inspection Policy during COVID-19 Declared State of Emergency, please click </span><a href="https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/document/027ac652-b86e-ea11-a2ee-000c29a59557/Interim%20COVID-19%20Inspection%20Policy%202020.03.25"><span style="color:#0B7BC0;background:white">here</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white">.
This policy, effective as of March 25, 2020, is applicable to all inspectional staff, including the Building Department, Board of Health, Planning, Zoning, Conservation, DPW, Water, and Assessors. The Town appreciates your continued patience and support as
we all do our part together to flatten the curve and limit the spread of COVID-19.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black;background:white"><br>
</span><span style="color:black">Town Offices Closed on Friday, April 10, 2020</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:black">Easton Town Offices will be closed on Friday, April 10, 2020 in observance of Good Friday.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Real Estate and Personal Property Bills Due Date Extended from May 1 to June 1:</span></strong><b><span style="color:black;background:white"><br>
</span></b><span style="color:black;background:white">Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills, originally due May 1, 2020, have had the due date extended to June 1, 2020. Interest on all other bills is suspended effective March 16, 2020, until further
notice. We encourage online bill payment via </span><a href="https://epay.cityhallsystems.com/selection"><span style="background:white">https://epay.cityhallsystems.com/selection</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white">. Payments can also be made
by US mail or can be placed in the dropbox in front of the Town Offices at 136 Elm Street. Cash cannot be accepted at this time. If paying via US mail, please direct to: Town of Easton, Collector’s Office, 136 Elm Street, Easton, MA 02356, or use the envelope
and remittance coupon included with your paper bill.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Postponement of Annual Town Election to Saturday, June 27, 2020 from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM at Oliver Ames High School</span></strong><b><span style="color:black;background:white"><br>
</span></b><span style="color:black;background:white">In response to the implications on election administration due to COVID-19, the governor, on March 23, 2020, signed into law Chapter 45 of the Acts of 2020 “An Act granting authority to postpone 2020 municipal
elections in the commonwealth and increase voting options in response to the declaration of emergency to respond to COVID-19.” The Select Board voted at their meeting on Friday, April 3rd to postpone the Annual Town Election from Tuesday, April 28, 2020 to
Saturday, June 27, 2020. Polling hours will be from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at Oliver Ames High School. Voters are encouraged to utilize the early vote by mail option that was part of the emergency legislation passed by the state. More information and instructions
can be found here: </span><a href="https://www.easton.ma.us/newsdetail_T1_R798.php"><span style="color:#0B7BC0;background:white">https://www.easton.ma.us/newsdetail_T1_R798.php</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="801" height="237" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image003.png@01D60F0B.F8D20A60" alt="Facebook Postponed Elections Graphic 2020"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Local Business Assistance from the Small Business Administration</span></strong><b><span style="color:black;background:white"><br>
</span></b><span style="color:black;background:white">New loan programs for small business owners and non-profits are available under the CARES Act, including up to $10 million under the Paycheck Protection Program: </span><a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options"><span style="color:#0B7BC0;background:white">https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white">.
Find more information about all of the loan programs </span><a href="https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/document/eecbd6e8-d878-ea11-a2f1-000c29a59557/LOCAL%20BUSINESS%20ASSISTANCE%20FROM%20THE%20SBA?fbclid=IwAR3dR9kuer2UxbFIPnTOq6HXDNg9YsTxNnfhzeCccCXjN7NMctInW4LYZLM" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0B7BC0;background:white">here</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white">. </span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Easton Cable Access Television<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ECAT will be broadcasting local and state COVID-19 information on Channel 9 Comcast and 22 Verizon Monday - Saturday from 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM and every day from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. All live meetings will continue to take place on Channel
98 Comcast and 23 Verizon. An archive on COVID-19 community meetings is available at
<a href="http://www.eastoncat.org/covid-19">www.eastoncat.org/covid-19</a>. <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Week of April 13 2020: Bulky Item Pick-up<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The week of April 13, 2020 will be the next “FREE BULK ITEM” pickup week for Waste Management customers. If you are enrolled in our Waste Management trash program, you can put one (1) large item curbside on your regular trash day to be
picked up at no charge to you. No need to call the office, just have your item out at 7:00 AM. You can find the list of acceptable items on the Town’s website
<a href="https://www.easton.ma.us/easton_residents/trash_pickup_and_recycling/bulky_item_pick_up.php">
here</a>. Any questions call the DPW @ 508-230-0800.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto"><b>Open Burning Season 2020 – Through May 1<sup>st</sup> – Permits Are Now Available</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Easton Fire Department would like to remind all residents that the Opening Burning Season for 2020 began on January 15<sup>th</sup> and will continue until May 1<sup>st</sup>. Please note, a new permit is required each year to legally
burn and can only be obtained online at <a href="https://eastonfire.com/open-burning-permits-2/">
Eastonfire.com</a>. Once a permit has been issued, burning shall be requested online the day you wish to burn. Permit applications and burn requests can be accessed from a home computer, a laptop or even a smart phone. Residents who do not have access to the
internet can use the self-service kiosk in the lobby at Fire Station #3, located at 413 Bay Road. The kiosk is available 7 days a week from 8am to 4pm. For questions or assistance, please contact the Fire Administration Desk at 508-230-0750, or
<a href="https://www.mass.gov/doc/safety-tips-for-open-burning/download">Click Here</a> for a list of Safety Tips for Open Burning Season.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>2020 Census<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;background:white">Recently, you should have received a letter from the U.S. Census Bureau, inviting you to go online to respond to the 2020 federal Census. The U.S. Census counts every person in the country every
10 years. The information gathered through the census is used to decide how much our communities get in state and federal money for things like public health, public safety, transportation, and education. The census is quick, easy, and important, and all of
your answers are confidential.</span><span style="color:black"> <span style="background:white">
Please visit </span></span><a href="http://www.my2020census.gov/?fbclid=IwAR1SodFGIotjTEvy7wWRM8Y49TJenkmP2QowdJOjVdijeJ-uLPkYYGhVRCg" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0B7BC0;background:white">www.my2020census.gov</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white"> and
be counted today. </span><a href="https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/Document/91c55cd3-2974-ea11-a2f0-000c29a59557/2020%20Federal%20Census%20-%20April%201st%20is%20National%20Census%20Day.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0B7BC0;background:white">Click
here</span></a><span style="color:black;background:white"> for the 2020 Federal Census responding guide.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Important Notice from the Easton Food Pantry<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Easton Food Pantry is here to serve residents in need. To that end, we will be open our usual hours on Mondays (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM), but with some special guidelines.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have been working with the Town, Board of Health, and the Outreach Coordinator to come up with a plan so that we can distribute food and supplies while still minimizing risk to our volunteers and clients. To that end, these guidelines
will be in place:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1. Call in by 5:00 PM Sunday evenings at (508) 230-0670 and leave the following info on our voicemail: name, address, phone #, and number of members in the family. Speak slowly and clearly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2. All clients will remain in their cars at all times. Someone will come to the car to check you in and a volunteer will bring your bag/s to your trunk. Please make certain it is clear.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3. No reusable bags will be used/allowed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4. No Self Help will be available.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5. Please be patient! Everyone will get their food, but it will take a little extra time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are here to help all residents of Easton. These can be challenging times. If you are newly in need of food and supplies, come see us on Mondays from 12:00 PM – 5”00 PM. Please bring with you proof of Easton residency, such as a current
utility bill, tax bill, etc. that has your name and address on it (drivers licenses are not considered proof of residency). Stay in your car, and we will come to register you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Donations:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you would like to donate NON-PERISHABLE food or supplies, we ask that you please use the bins located at Roche Bros, Shaw's, 50 Oliver St, or near the Pantry entrance at 136 Elm Street. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CANNOT ACCEPT ANY PERISHABLE
ITEMS. Monetary donations and local supermarket gift certificates are always greatly appreciated, and can be mailed to:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Easton Food Pantry<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">136 Elm Street<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Easton, MA 02356<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Check the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Easton-Food-Pantry-147638461971296/">
Easton Food Pantry Facebook page</a> for updates.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<br>
<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Town-of-Easton-MA/109553865754359?sk=wall"><img border="0" width="32" height="32" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.easton.ma.us/images/facebook2.jpg" alt="Facebook"></a><font face="times">Follow us on Facebook</font><br>
<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/townofeaston"><img border="0" width="32" height="32" id="_x0000_i1026" src="http://www.easton.ma.us/images/twitter.jpg" alt="Twitter"></a><font face="times">Follow us on Twitter</font></p>
<p><strong><font color="#29AB00" face="times" size="2">Help make the earth a greener place. If at all possible resist printing this e-mail and join us in saving paper.</font></strong></p>
<br>
<p><font face="times">The Secretary of State's Office has determined email is a public record. All e-mail communications sent or received by persons using the Town of Easton network may be subject to disclosure under the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L.
Chapter 66, Section 10) and the Federal Freedom of Information Act</font></p>
</body>
</html>