3/15/2020 COVID-19 Town of Barre Update #1 see attached update

Updates on COVID-19

Greetings all Barre residents.

We wanted to bring you the most up-to-date information regarding Town efforts and services regarding COVID-19.  For the most up-to-date information on the evolving situation, please stay tuned to the State’s page, https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19 .  For direct questions related to COVID-19, please contact the State’s 211 line or visit their website at https://mass211.org/. 

The Emergency Management Team, which consists of the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Town Administrator, and Board of Health,  has been staying in close contact with regional towns, joining several conference calls, and keeping Town Officials up-to-date on the evolving situation. 

The Town of Barre has taken the following precautionary measures:

1)      Town Buildings & Services.
 
a.       Library.  The Woods Memorial Library was closed today, Saturday March 14th.  Decisions about next week and the upcoming weeks will be coming out on Monday.  Please check back with the Town of Barre website for up-to-date information.  You may also call 978-355-2533 for information.
 
b.       Schools Closed.  The Quabbin Regional School District school committee has closed all schools until March 29th.  http://www.qrsd.org/
 
c.       Town Buildings Remain Open.  At this time, all other Town Buildings remain open.  As a precaution, we ask the following in order to protect the health of our residents and employees:
 
                                                               i.      Please only come to the Town Offices/Buildings if you have in-person time-sensitive business to handle.  Before coming, please consider calling the relevant department and seeing if your matter can be handled remotely.  Please see our website for departmental contact information: www.townofbarre.com or call (978) 335-2504.
 
                                                             ii.      If a resident or employee is sick and/or exhibiting flu-like symptoms, we request that they stay home and do not come to the Town buildings.  Any person exhibiting flu-like symptoms who comes to a Town building will be asked to return home.
 
                                                           iii.      When you must visit the Town buildings for business, please call in advance so that our staff can have all materials ready for you upon your arrival, (978) 335-2504. 
 
2)      Large Gatherings Prohibited.  On March 13th, the Governor issued an ordering prohibiting large gatherings of 250 or more people.  The order is available here, https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-baker-issues-order-limiting-large-gatherings-in-the-commonwealth. 
 
3)      Public Meetings.  Please continue to check http://mytowngovernment.org/01005 for the most up-to-date information on meeting cancellations.  Please note that at this time, the Ware River Watershed Advisory Meeting has been cancelled.  Based on the Governor’s order regarding the Open Meeting Law, there may be some changes to how are currently held.  For the order and what it means, please see, https://www.mass.gov/the-open-meeting-law. We are currently working closely with the Town Clerk, the Board of Selectmen, and the state to address how to proceed with our upcoming Local Election. 
 

The Emergency Management Team will continue to review the evolving situation and work closely with all Town Officials to take precautionary measures and keep all residents informed.  As more information becomes available, and as the situation changes, there may be additional closings to report.  The most up-to-date information will be posted on our Facebook page and our Town website. 

Thank you,

Heather M. Budrewicz, Interim Town Administrator

Heather M. Budrewicz
Interim Town Administrator
Town of Barre
p. 978.355.2504 ext. 101
f. 978.355.5023