[Eastontowncrier] Town Crier May 8, 2020

[Easton Town Crier]

LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS AND NOTICES

Easton Officials Provide Important Information about Novel Coronavirus
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, www.easton.ma.us/covid-19<http://www.easton.ma.us/covid-19>, 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 Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/townofeastonma/> and Twitter <https://twitter.com/townofeaston> for important updates and information.

Face Covering Orders
Effective Wednesday, May 6, 2020, Governor Baker issued an Order requiring face masks or cloth face coverings in public places where social distancing is not possible. This applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Exceptions include children under the age of 2 and those unable to wear a mask or face covering due to a medical condition.  To review the order and for guidance, please visit this page<https://www.mass.gov/news/wear-a-mask-in-public>.

In an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19 the Easton Board of Health unanimously voted on April 24, 2020 to order all members of the public wear a facial covering when entering any essential business as defined by Governor Baker's Covid-19 Executive Order. The order includes but is not limited to restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, convenient stores, liquor stores and the like. This order also includes employees who work at essential businesses that are open to the public. Employees must wear a facial covering over their mouth and nose. This order also applies to common areas and communal spaces of residential and commercial building complexes with greater than one unit. Click here<https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/document/a6fada61-9688-ea11-a2f4-000c29a59557/Easton%20BOH%20face%20covering%20required%204%2024%202020> for the full text of the order and please visit this FAQ page<https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/document/912f8098-a988-ea11-a2f4-000c29a59557/COVID19%20FACE%20COVERING%20WEB%20FAQ%20(1)> for guidance.

Stay Home, Save Lives
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.

Status of Town Services
In keeping with the Governor's continued emergency actions limiting gatherings and other 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 further notice.  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 here<https://www.easton.ma.us/easton_residents/about_easton/contact_us.php>. To review the Town of Easton Interim Inspection Policy during COVID-19 Declared State of Emergency, please click here<https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/document/027ac652-b86e-ea11-a2ee-000c29a59557/Interim%20COVID-19%20Inspection%20Policy%202020.03.25>.  This policy 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.
Postponement of Annual Town Election to Saturday, June 27, 2020 from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM at Oliver Ames High School
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: https://www.easton.ma.us/newsdetail_T1_R798.php.

ELECTION

Postponed
Election Date*

Election Hours*

Deadline to Register to vote<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/>

Application to Vote by Mail

Sample Ballots<https://cms2.revize.com/revize/eastonma/departments/town_clerk1/sample_ballots_.php>

Special State Precinct 6 Only

Tue, June 2nd

7AM - 8PM
Town Offices

Friday, May 22nd

Special State Election Application<https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/Document/7d8d8877-076e-ea11-a2ee-000c29a59557/2020%20Special%20State%20Election%20-%20Early%20Voting%20Application.pdf>

Sample<https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/Document/200874f0-ac63-ea11-a2eb-000c29a59557/2020.03.31%20Special%20State%20-%20Sample%20Ballot%20-%20P6.pdf>

Annual Town Election

Sat, June 27th

10AM - 4PM
OAHS - Gym

Wed, June 17th

Annual Town Election Application<https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/Document/86befd55-076e-ea11-a2ee-000c29a59557/2020%20Annual%20Town%20Election%20-%20Early%20Voting%20Application.pdf>

Sample<https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/Document/8886e9e2-3670-ea11-a2ee-000c29a59557/Town%20Election%20Ballot%20April%2028,%202020.pdf>

Postponement of Annual Town Meeting to Monday, June 22, 2020
On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, the Easton Select Board, pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 39, Section 9, voted to postpone Annual Town Meeting from its current date and time of Monday, May 18, 2020 to Monday, June 22, 2020 at 7:00 PM in the Oliver Ames High School Auditorium, due to COVID-19. Please note that due to the evolving nature of the pandemic, further postponement is possible.
Real Estate and Personal Property Bills Due Date Extended from May 1 to June 1:
Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills, originally due May 1, 2020, have had the due date extended to June 1, 2020. The due date for applications for property tax exemptions has also been extended to June 1, 2020. Interest and other penalty for late payment of any excise, tax, betterment assessment, water use, or sewer use, with a due date on or after March 10, 2020, is waived as long as payment is made before June 30, 2020. We encourage online bill payment via https://epay.cityhallsystems.com/selection. 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.
Notice of Board and Committee Term Expirations and Vacancies as of June 30, 2020
Applications for appointments to Boards, Commissions, Committees and Councils will be accepted by the Select Board until Monday, June 1, 2020. Incumbents with terms expiring on June 30, 2020 are open to re-appointment but in order to be considered also need to reapply by completing the online volunteer application form. The required volunteer application and list of vacancies may be accessed here<http://www.easton.ma.us/easton_residents/employment_volunteer_opportunities/index.php>. If you are interested in volunteering for one of these positions, please complete the fillable form<http://www.easton.ma.us/easton_residents/employment_volunteer_opportunities/index.php> and click "submit". If you have any questions please call the Select Board's Office at (508) 230-0501.
May 1 through November 1: Phase II Water Restrictions
Effective May 1, 2020 through November 1, 2020 Phase II Water Restrictions will be in place. Even numbered properties will be restricted to Mondays and Thursdays between 5:00am to 8:00am and 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Odd numbered properties will be restricted to Tuesday and Friday between 5:00am to 8:00am and 6:00pm to 9:00pm. These restrictions are necessary to comply with our permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and to stay below our limit of 65 residential gallons per capita per day. As part of this permit we must also monitor streamflow in the Taunton River and impose further restrictions if the flow falls below 47 cubic feet per second for three consecutive days. Residents will be notified if further restrictions are required. Please visit the Easton Water Division web page at for more information: https://www.easton.ma.us/departments/dpw/water_division/index.php

Easton Water Division 2019 Consumer Confidence Report
The Easton Water Division is pleased to announce the availability of the 2019 consumer confidence report (CCR) which is available on the Water Divisions webpage:
https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/document/b6240be1-da53-ea11-a2e8-000c29a59557/Annual%20Report%20of%20the%20Easton%20Water%20Division%202019
Individuals requesting a hard copy sent to them, should call the Easton Water Division at 508-230-0850.

Veterans Benefits During COVID-19
M.G.L. Chapter 115 provides a needs based, means tested program of financial and medical assistance for qualifying veterans and their dependents. Eligible applicants may receive financial assistance for food, shelter, clothing, housing supplies, and dental and medical care. These benefits are available for dependents of deceased veterans as well.
To Qualify:
As a single applicant your gross income must be below $2,081 and your assets must be below $5,000.
As a married couple your gross income must below $2,818 and your assets must be below $9,800. Assets refer to liquid assets and do not include your home, vehicle, etc. it does, however include any IRA, 401k, stocks, bonds, trusts.
Veterans Discretionary Fund
The Veterans Discretionary Fund is reserved for the purchase or reimbursement of expenses required to sustain daily living for any veteran who is a resident of Easton, MA.  If you would like to donate or if you are in need of assistance from this fund please contact Cory Ahonen, Veterans' Service Officer at 774-273-1991.
We are proud to offer access to these benefits that you have earned through you or your loved one's service to our country. Please contact Easton Veterans' Service Officer, Cory Ahonen, at 774-273-1991 or by E-mail at cahonen at easton.ma.us<mailto:cahonen at easton.ma.us> to find out what documentation is needed to complete your application.
2020 United States Census
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. Please visit www.my2020census.gov<http://www.my2020census.gov> and be counted today. Click here<https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/Document/91c55cd3-2974-ea11-a2f0-000c29a59557/2020%20Federal%20Census%20-%20April%201st%20is%20National%20Census%20Day.pdf> for 2020 Census responding guide.

Local Business Assistance from the Small Business Administration
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: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options.  Find more information about all of the loan programs here<https://eastontownma.documents-on-demand.com/document/eecbd6e8-d878-ea11-a2f1-000c29a59557/LOCAL%20BUSINESS%20ASSISTANCE%20FROM%20THE%20SBA?fbclid=IwAR3dR9kuer2UxbFIPnTOq6HXDNg9YsTxNnfhzeCccCXjN7NMctInW4LYZLM>.

Easton Cable Access Television
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 www.eastoncat.org/covid-19<http://www.eastoncat.org/covid-19>.

Important Notice from the Easton Food Pantry
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.

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:

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.
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.
3. No reusable bags will be used/allowed.
4. No Self Help will be available.
5. Please be patient! Everyone will get their food, but it will take a little extra time.
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.
Donations:
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:
Easton Food Pantry
136 Elm Street
Easton, MA 02356
Check the Easton Food Pantry Facebook page<https://www.facebook.com/Easton-Food-Pantry-147638461971296/> for updates.



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