Town of Pepperell Services Info (3/30/2020)

For general questions regarding COVID-19 please call the state hotline: 211

All town buildings and offices are closed to the public until April 7th. Services are being provided remotely, via email and phone; some services may be delayed. If you leave a voicemail, please include your name and a number where you can be reached.See departmental updates and details below:

Town Administrator’s Office

• The Town Administrator’s Office will continue to provide all services remotely. You can contact the TA and the BOS/TA Admin via email at amaclean@town.pepperell.ma.us or tlooney@town.pepperell.ma.us or via phone at 978-650-1622. 

Emergency Management

• Emergency Management is working closely with the Local Emergency Planning Council (LEPC), in particular with Police, Fire and BOH. All MEMA Region 1 EMD twice weekly meetings are being attended by the Director, and daily updates from MEMA are being shared with commentary to help understand the application to Pepperell. The Auxiliary Police have been removed from the full time cruiser ride-alongs to follow the safe practice of one man cars, and all Auxiliary and CERT meetings/training have been suspended for the time being. Both groups can be brought to bear though if their resources are needed.

Public Safety Communications

• Communications is running at 100% at this time. There is a contingency plan in place with the Ashby Police. If multiple dispatchers are unavailable we will consolidate in Pepperell and run both Town’s Call Centers.

Police|

• Although town buildings in Pepperell are currently closed to the public, the police department remains open for emergencies and other police related matters that can’t be handled over the phone or via email.  If you are unsure if you should come to the police station, call us at 978-433-2424. For more information, please visit the PPD website.

Board of Health

• The Pepperell Board of Health, under the guidance of Nashoba Associated Boards of Health (NABH), will continue to provide all services, with some limitations. Though the NABH office is closed to the public at this time, they are available via email at kgendron@nashoba.org or via phone at 978-772-3335. Dial “0” and the support staff can guide you.

Fire/EMS

• The Fire Department remains committed to providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) including Advanced Life Support (ALS) transports along with fire protection to the citizens of Pepperell.
• We are monitoring guidance from CDC, State Department of Public Health, Department of Fire Services, and Office of Emergency Medical Services and incorporating best practices to respond to all calls for services while protecting our employees. We are working closely with the LEPC as this situation develops.  

Department of Public Works

• The Town Engineer/DPW Director can be reached via email at kkalinowski@town.pepperell.ma.us, or phone at 978-433-0327.
• The Highway Department can be reached at 978-433-5735.
• The Cemetery & Parks Department can be reached at 978-433-0323.
• During this period of remote operations and limited staffing, the Pepperell DPW is committed to providing the residents and our customers with a basic level of services and amenities such as clean water, sewage collection and treatment, snow and ice removal from public ways, trash disposal and recycling, and interment of the deceased in town cemeteries. Normal and customary maintenance activities on our infrastructure will be performed as time and staffing allows. All DPW construction/capital projects are deferred indefinitely until such time as all restrictions are lifted and full staffing in resumed.
• In order to minimize the high potential for CV infection, as well as address a severe lack of availability for 3rd party contract assistance in the event of a mass infection/quarantine, the DPW has elected to have administrative staff work remotely and further, to assign the licensed operational staff to rotating work shifts (1 or 2 week rotation). Operational staff will not enter private homes/businesses/institutions for non-emergency work. Inspections, final meter reads, etc., will be considered on a case by case basis and will require additional lead time. Sidewalk clearing may be delayed based on available staff. These precautions will undoubtedly impact our ability to provide usual and customary services until such time as all restrictions are lifted, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation.

Water and Sewer

• The Pepperell Water and Sewer departments are operating on a reduced staff and will be responding only to emergency situations. The office will not be staffed during this period, but we will be answering emails and checking voice mail.
• Water related issues: aadams@town.pepperell.ma.us
• Sewer related issues: stocci@town.pepperell.ma.us 
• Payments: khartwell@town.pepperell.ma.us or leave a voice mail at 978-433-0359

Council on Aging

• Please see this video message from the Council on Aging. They can be reached at 978-433-0326.
• https://pepperell.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=c5bd5918-eaea-45b1-a5fa-0596cb0f4df6 

Lawrence Library

• Library staff can assist you via email at dspratt@cwmars.org or tmcevoy@cwmars.org, or you can leave a message at 978-433-0330 (press “0”). Phone messages will be checked once a day. All items due will automatically be renewed and any fines during this closure will be waived. Please do not return library materials or drop off donations at this time.
• We encourage our patrons and residents to use our eBook and eAudiobook collections, our other online resources, and our streaming TV, movie, and music service. 
• Free WiFi is available 24/7 outside the library, within a limited perimeter (no password needed).
• We will use the library newsletter, our website, Facebook page, and Instagram to communicate any additional changes in services, as well as to post informative, educational, and fun links.

Recreation

• The Recreation Department can be reached via email at recreation@town.pepperell.ma.us, or phone at 978-433-0324. Some instructors are running classes via Live on FaceBook.

Town Hall

Town Clerk

• The Town Clerk’s Office is committed to providing services as much as possible during this pandemic. For all questions, email bmontesanti@town.pepperell.ma.us, or call 978-433-0339. For detailed information about available services, visit the Town Clerk website.

Assessors

• The Assessors’ Office will be accepting exemption applications, excise abatements, forms of list, I & E forms and any other requests by email, mbolger@town.pepperell.ma.us, mail, or the drop box outside the lower level of Town Hall. Most inspections are temporarily on hold. Call 978-433-0332 or email for questions.

Building Department

• The Pepperell Building Department can be contacted via email, lnspector@town.pepperell.ma.us, or phone 978- 433-0329. Permit applications and fee schedules are available on the town website and may be mailed or emailed, or left in the drop box at the Town Hall.
• Inspections will be done on any new construction or work being done outside of a residence.
• Inspections of occupied residences are not being at this time.
• Contractors are asked to contact our office to make arrangements for taking pictures or videos of residential work.

Conservation Commission

• Contact the Conservation Administrator via email at pterrasi@town.pepperell.ma.us, or phone at 978 433-0325. There will be no in-person meetings, other than site visits where social distancing is possible. Filings for work within Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act jurisdictional areas can be submitted electronically and payment for filings can be arranged by emailing or leaving a message with the Conservation Administrator. Please contact the Conservation Administrator prior to submitting all filings until further notice.

Planning Department 

• The Planning Department can be reached via email at planning@town.pepperell.ma.us. All applications are being accepted, but scheduling of meetings / public hearings may be delayed.

Treasurer

• The Treasurer ’s Office can be contacted via email, dnutter@town.pepperell.ma.us, or phone at 978-433-0337.

Veteran’s Services

• The Veteran’s Services Office can be contacted at 978-433-0342. 

Zoning Board of Appeals

• The ZBA can be contacted via email at clutcza@town.pepperell.ma.us, or phone at 978-650-1623.