Meetings and Elections

List of delayed/rescheduled Town Meetings and Elections (updated April 2)
– Massachusetts Municipal Association

In midst of pandemic, towns scramble to change meetings, elections
– By Jennifer Kavanaugh, Associate Editor, MMA

Guidance on Suspension of Certain Provisions of Open Meeting Law
– Courtesy KP Law

COVID-19 Elections Updates
– Secretary of the Commonwealth

Process for delaying town meeting during an emergency (updated March 2020)
– Courtesy KP Law

Recommendations for Election Polling Locations
– U.S. CDC

Sample Remote Meeting Script
– Courtesy of Town of Arlington

Sample Remote Participation checklist for COVID-19 emergency
– Courtesy of Town of Arlington

Municipal Finance

COVID-19 Resources and Guidance for Municipal Officials
– Division of Local Services

Emergency Expenditures and Borrowing Bulletin
– Division of Local Services

Emergency Declarations and Aid

COVID-19 Federal Disaster Declaration
– Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

Sample Municipal Declaration of Emergency
– Courtesy KP Law

Guidance for federal emergency assistance through FEMA
– National League of Cities

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Eligible Emergency Protective Measures Fact Sheet
– FEMA

Guidance on Local Shelter in Place Orders
– Mass. Attorney General’s Office

First Responders

Guidance regarding sharing information about quarantined individuals with first responders
– Massachusetts Association of Health Boards

Guidance on HIPAA privacy rights during coronavirus pandemic
– U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

Business and Construction

Enforcement of the COVID-19 Safety Guidelines and Procedures for Construction Sites, revised March 31
– Office of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito

Supplemental Guidelines for Construction Sites
– Office of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito

COVID-19 Employee Health, protection, guidance and prevention
– Office of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito

Essential Services during COVID-19 pandemic
– Office of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, updated March 31

COVID-19 Essential Services FAQs
– Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development

Essential Services Guidance Regarding Construction
– Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development

Human Resources

Federal law extends paid leave and sick time benefits
– By Lisa Adams, Senior Legislative Analyst, MMA

Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers
– U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division

Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave And Expanded Family And Medical Leave Under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act
– U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division

FAQs regarding employee rights and employer obligations regarding COVID-19
– Mass. Attorney General’s Office

COVID-19 and the Workplace
– U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division

Quick Steps to Prepare a Remote Work Policy for Your Local Government
– International City/County Management Association

Telework cybersecurity advice for cities and towns
– By Stephanie Helm, Director, MassCyberCenter

Supporting employees through COVID crisis: tips for local government managers
– By Steven Bernstein, EAP Account Manager, AllOneHealth EAP

Employee Guidelines for Telecommuting During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Emergency
– Courtesy Town of Norwell

Planning and Local Response

Using the Community Preservation Act (CPA) For Rental Assistance Programs
– Massachusetts Housing Partnership

MEMA responds to questions raised during March 24 COVID-19 briefing for municipal CEOs
– Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

Administration responds to questions raised during March 24 COVID-19 briefing for municipal CEOs
– Office of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito

Local Emergency Management Planning Guidance
– Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

COVID-19 Guidance and Recommendations for audiences including schools, employers and EMS and 911 Public Safety Answering Points
– Mass. DPH, including information from the U.S. CDC

Coronavirus resources for local government managers
– International City/County Management Association

Managing Through the Coronavirus: What Local Leaders Need to Know
– National League of Cities

COVID-19 Information and Resources
– Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

COVID-19 Federal Disaster Declaration
– Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019
– Mass Dept. of Public Health

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) information portal
– U.S. CDC

Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Persons with Potential COVID-19 Exposure in Travel-Associated or Community Settings
– U.S. CDC

Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools
– U.S. CDC

CDC recommends organizers cancel or postpone in-person events of 50 people or more through May 11

COVID-19 information and resources for local health departments
– U.S. CDC

Massachusetts Councils on Aging Coronavirus (COVID-19) resource page, including data on the status of senior services statewide

Know Plan Prepare
– Mass. Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management

Stop the Spread of Germs PSA poster
– Mass Dept. of Public Health

Free public information resources, including video, fact sheets and posters
– U.S. CDC

List of Essential Services during COVID-19 pandemic
– Office of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito

Health and Medical Coordinating Coalitions

Medical Reserve Corps of Massachusetts

Cities and towns across Massachusetts have been responding aggressively and swiftly to inform the public about the implications of the coronavirus situation in their community and to share the status of local preparedness.

The following are some of the measures being implemented locally:

• Establish an online portal for up-to-the-minute information for residents and businesses, including links to key outside resources.
These website resources are updated frequently, and indicate the date and time of the most recent update. Many communities have established an easy-to-remember web address for these information centers (such as LexingtonMA.gov/COVID19), and feature a prominent link on their homepage.
Here are a couple examples of local sites:
– City of Somerville Novel Coronavirus Preparedness and Information
– Town of Lexington Current Information on COVID-19
– Town of Andover Information on Coronavirus
– Town of Natick Information on Coronavirus
– Town of Danvers Information on Coronavirus

• Encourage residents to like and follow municipal social media channels for breaking news updates.
• Encourage residents to sign up for municipal alerts, such as reverse 911, Code Red, or other local systems.
• Use a form to gather and update resident email addresses.
• Send daily (or regularly scheduled) emails to update residents and businesses on the local response.
• Create a volunteer signup form for individuals seeking to lend a hand to others. (Volunteers who register are contacted once assignments are identified.)
• Have the public works department post signs at heavily travelled intersections with easily identifiable online resources.
• Encourage the use of a local 311 service for non-emergency services and questions, and promote the Commonwealth’s 211 number for non-emergency questions about coronavirus issues
• Create “grab-and-go” meal pickup centers or meal delivery services for students and families who qualify for free lunches and breakfasts.
• Declare a state of emergency at the local level.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and this information will change as new updates become available from the DPH and the U.S. CDC.

Have a question about coronavirus as it relates to municipal operations, or a suggestion for this page? Send it to us.