Topics

New This Week

Meetings and Elections
Public Meetings, Hearings, Operations
Municipal Finance
Emergency Declarations and Aid
PPE, Testing, Tracing and Enforcement
First Responders
Business Activities
Human Resources
Remote Work
Housing and Sheltering
Health and Human Services
Planning and Local Response
Education and Child Care
Municipal Services
Recreation and Summer Activities
Guidance Archive

Meetings and Elections

Election Advisory #20-01, Regarding Return of Ballots via Secured Drop Box
– Secretary of the Commonwealth

Guidance for Town Meetings to Address COVID-19
– Department of Public Health

Recommendations for Election Polling Locations
– U.S. CDC

2020 Municipal Election Early Ballot Application
– Secretary of the Commonwealth

Public Meetings, Hearings, Operations

Instructions for Submitting Legislative Committee Hearing Testimony
– Massachusetts Legislature

Guidance on Gatherings and Community Events
– U.S. CDC

Municipal Finance

DLS Bulletin 2020-10 re FY2021 revenue and expenditure budgeting and related matters
– Division of Local Services

Dealing with the Impact of COVID-19 on a Local Government’s Financial Health (April 13)
– Division of Local Services

DLS Bulletin 2020-9 re FY2021 Cherry Sheets and Monthly Local Aid Distributions
– Division of Local Services

DLS Bulletin 2020-8 re An Act Relative to Municipal Governance During the COVID-19 Emergency
– Division of Local Services

GFOA Resource Center for Coronavirus Response
– Government Finance Officers Association

DLS Bulletin 2020-02 re: An Act to Address Challenges Faced by Municipalities and State Authorities Resulting From COVID-19
– Division of Local Services

DLS Bulletin 2020-03: Alternative Procedures for Notification to Taxpayers (Addendum to DLS Bulletin 2020-02)
– Division of Local Services

DLS Bulletin 2020-04 re: procedures for appropriation of free cash and retained earnings after June 30, 2020, as authorized by Chapter 53 of Acts of 2020
– Division of Local Services

DLS Bulletin 2020-05 re: amortization of FY20 deficit resulting from COVID-19 emergency as authorized by Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020
– Division of Local Services

DLS Bulletin 2020-06: Deficit Spending Authority for Continued Operation After June 30 In the Event of a Delay in FY21 Budget Adoption
– Division of Local Services

FAQs regarding sections 10 and 11 of Ch. 53 of Acts of 2020 (property tax delays and waiving of penalties)
– Division of Local Services, April 15

COVID-19 municipal finance guidance and resources
– Division of Local Services

Emergency Declarations and Aid

CARES Act FAQs, updated July 20
– Division of Local Services

DLS Bulletin 2020-7 re: Accounting for COVID-19 Emergency Expenditures and Reimbursements and Monies Received from Coronavirus Relief Fund and FEMA
– Division of Local Services

Coronavirus Relief Fund FAQs – Updated May 28
– U.S. Department of the Treasury

Guidance for Massachusetts municipalities on accessing funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund
– Executive Office for Administration and Finance

CARES Act for Municipal Government
– Division of Local Services

PPE, Testing, Tracing and Enforcement

Resources for communities with highest rates of COVID-19 (released Sept. 3)
– Office of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito

Guidance for Travelers arriving in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
– Department of Public Health

Massachusetts Travel Form

COVID-19 Travel Order

Executive Order Amending the Administration of Penalties Issued Pursuant to Certain COVID-19 Orders
– COVID-19 Order No. 48

PPE and Technology Funding For Schools (application period closes July 21)
– Mass. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education

Data on COVID-19 cases and testing, confirmed cases by city/town, and residents subject to quarantine
– Department of Public Health

Purchasing Hygienic or Protective Supplies for the Workplace
– Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development

Answer the Call and Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19
– Community Tracing Collaborative

Get Tested website

First Responders

Temporary EMS Certification due to COVID-19
– Office of Emergency Medical Services

Revised Guidance for Allowing Asymptomatic Health Care Personnel and Emergency Medical Technicians to Work Following a Known Exposure to COVID-19
– Mass. Dept. of Public Health

Nursing Home FAQs for First Responders and Municipalities
– Mass. Dept. of Public Health

Business Activities

Workplace Safety Standards for Indoor and Outdoor Events to Address COVID-19 (updated Sept. 22, effective Sept. 28)
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Sector Specific Workplace Safety Standards for Retail Businesses to Address COVID-19 (updated Sept. 22, effective Sept. 28)
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Sector Specific Workplace Safety Standards for Restaurants to Address COVID-19 (updated Sept. 22, effective Sept. 28)
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Executive Order Making Certain Phase III Adjustments (outdoor dining, arcades)
– COVID-19 Order No. 50

Safety Standards and Checklist: Theaters and Performance Venues
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Safety Standards and Checklist: Indoor Recreation (effective July 6)
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Safety Standards and Checklist: Fitness Centers and Health Clubs (effective July 6)
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Safety Standards and Checklist: Museums and Cultural and Historical Facilities and Guided Tours (effective July 6)
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Safety Standards and Checklist: Office Spaces (effective June 22)
– Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development

Commonwealth Workplace COVID-19 Re-Occupancy Guide (June 2020)
– Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance

Advisory Regarding Local Licensing Authorities’ Approval of Outdoor Seating
– Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission

Guidance to Municipalities on Enforcing COVID-19 Orders
– Department of Labor Standards

Human Resources

Quarantine Order and Guidance for Out-of-State Travel
– Human Resources Division

COVID-19 Travel Order

Resources concerning unemployment fraud
– Department of Unemployment Assistance

Remote Work

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

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

Housing and Sheltering

FAQs for Cities and Towns regarding FEMA Reimbursement for Quarantine/Isolation Solutions
– Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

Health and Human Services

Food Infrastructure Grant Program
– Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Find Food Assistance
– Department of Transitional Assistance

Recommendations for Reopening – Scaling Up Senior Center Operations
– Massachusetts Council On Aging

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

COVID-19 Public Resources Map
– Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, MassGIS, Project Bread, Greater Boston Food Bank, Worcester County Food Bank, Massachusetts Communities

Planning and Local Response

Executive Order Further Advancing Phase 3 Reopenings in Municipalities With Reduced Incidence of COVID-19 Infection
– COVID Order No. 51, Sept. 29

Phase 3, Step 2 Order Regulating Gatherings in the Commonwealth
– COVID Order No. 52, Sept. 29, effective Oct. 5

Tips for a Safe and Healthy Halloween
– Department of Public Health

Fall holiday celebrations guidance
– U.S. CDC

Safety Standards and Checklist: Indoor and Outdoor Events
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Third Revised Order Regulating Gatherings Throughout the Commonwealth
– COVID-19 Executive Order No. 46, effective Aug. 11

Reopening Massachusetts report
– Reopening Advisory Board

Reopening Massachusetts
– Baker-Polito Administration

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

Education and Child Care

Reporting Requirement for District/School Positive COVID-19 Cases and Mobile Response Overview (Revised Sept. 18)
– Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education

Additional Information for School Health Offices (updated Sept. 3)
– Dept. of Education

Protocol for Requesting Mobile Rapid Response Units
– Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Remote Learning Enrichment Programs Minimum Operating Requirements (effective Aug. 31)
– Dept. of Early Education and Care

Remote Learning Policies and Processes
– Dept. of Early Education and Care

Remote Learning Supplemental Information and Resources (Aug. 31)
– Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education

Remote Learning Guidance for Fall 2020 (July 24)
– Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education

Care options for Hybrid and Remote Learning Models
– Dept. of Early Education and Care and Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education

Executive Order Authorizing Certain Program Adjustments to Support Families With Students Engaged in Remote Learning
– COVID-19 Order No. 49

Massachusetts Child and Youth Serving Programs: Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety
– Department of Early Education and Care, revised Aug. 21

Guidance for Districts and Schools on Interpreting DPH COVID-19 Metrics (Aug. 11)
– Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds
– Department of Education

Guidance for Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations for Fall 2020
– Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Fall School Transportation Guidance
– Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Protocols for responding to COVID-19 scenarios in school, on the bus, or in community settings
– Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance (June 25)
– Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Municipal Services

Safety Standards and Checklist for Libraries
– Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development

Reopening Your Library: Guidelines, Roadmap and Plan Template
– Massachusetts Library System

Recreation and Summer Activities

Workplace Safety and Reopening Standards for Entities Providing Outdoor Adult Sports, Supervised Youth Sports Leagues and Summer Sports Camps – Phase 3, Step 1 (updated Aug. 13)
– Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Safety Standards Checklist: Youth and Adult Amateur Sport Activities – Activity Organizer (updated Aug. 13)
– Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Safety Standards Checklist: Youth and Adult Amateur Sport Activities – Facility Operators (updated Aug. 13)
– Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Sport Compliance Attestation Poster (updated Aug. 13)
– Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

 

New This Week

Phase 3, Step 2 Order Regulating Gatherings in the Commonwealth
– COVID Order No. 52, Sept. 29, effective Oct. 5

Executive Order Further Advancing Phase 3 Reopenings in Municipalities With Reduced Incidence of COVID-19 Infection
– COVID Order No. 51, Sept. 29

Tips for a Safe and Healthy Halloween
– Department of Public Health

Reporting Requirement for District/School Positive COVID-19 Cases and Mobile Response Overview (Revised Sept. 18)
– Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education

Workplace Safety Standards for Indoor and Outdoor Events to Address COVID-19 (updated Sept. 22, effective Sept. 28)
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Sector Specific Workplace Safety Standards for Retail Businesses to Address COVID-19 (updated Sept. 22, effective Sept. 28)
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Sector Specific Workplace Safety Standards for Restaurants to Address COVID-19 (updated Sept. 22, effective Sept. 28)
– Dept. of Housing and Economic Development

Additional Information for School Health Offices (updated Sept. 3)
– Dept. of Education

Fall holiday celebrations guidance
– U.S. CDC

Protocol for Requesting Mobile Rapid Response Units
– Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Management Association discusses state of COVID pandemic Aug. 27

Select board group discusses open meeting and public records laws July 15

MMA Human Services Council discusses elder care during COVID-19 July 1

Select board group discusses economic recovery in downtown business districts June 24

MMA holds COVID-19 briefing for MSA and MMCA June 12

MMHR webinar covers re-entry planning for municipalities June 11

STAM webinar discusses reopening town buildings and operations June 5

Local leaders discuss town meetings and elections during COVID June 3

STAM holds webinar to explore one-twelfth budget process May 29

State agencies explain state, federal programs to help communities mitigate COVID impacts May 28

Select board group discusses meetings, records, social media and other challenges May 20

In webinar, top administration officials explain CARES Act funding process May 14

MMHR webinar covers furloughs, unemployment during COVID emergency May 14

MMCA webinar looks at municipal budgeting in COVID era May 13

MSA/MMCA COVID-19 briefing webinar May 8

STAM webinar covers range of municipal finance topics during COVID crisis May 5

ATFC holds webinar exploring municipal budget implications of COVID April 29

Experts discuss cybersecurity for municipalities during COVID emergency April 26

MSA/MMCA COVID-19 briefing webinar April 10

Town managers, MMHR discuss supporting employees during COVID emergency April 9

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

The following are some of the measures being implemented locally:

Communications
• Maintain an online portal for up-to-the-minute information for residents and businesses, including links to key outside resources. These online resources indicate the date and time of the most recent updates. 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.
– City of Somerville Novel Coronavirus Preparedness and Information
– Town of Andover Information on Coronavirus
– Town of Natick Information on Coronavirus
– Town of Danvers Information on Coronavirus
• Urge 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 communication 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.
• Have the public works department post signs at heavily travelled intersections promoting 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.
• Consolidate key resources concerning coronavirus with a dedicated website.
– Salem Together includes a directory – in English and Spanish – of more than 80 linked resources, including food programs, housing support, child care providers, health information, programs for employers, unemployment assistance, and more.
• Use traditional methods to raise awareness about COVID-19 precautions.
– Boston deploys “sound trucks” to broadcast rolling public service announcements in neighborhoods, in seven languages depending on the community.
• Use multi-lingual texting to reach all residents, regardless of their first language.
– Boston sends daily text alerts in 11 languages, updating residents about local spread of coronavirus, preventive measures, and available city resources.
• Warn residents about coronoavirus-inspired door-to-door, telephone, and internet scams seeking to take advantage of people’s generosity or prey on their fears.
– Braintree officials warn residents about scams

Public health and safety
• Declare a state of emergency at the local level.
• Promote the practice of physical distancing by posting guidance and recommendations online and robo-calling residents with information.
• Urge residents to follow CDC and Mass. DPH recommendations for wearing cloth face coverings in public. Some communities are requiring face coverings for entry into essential businesses, particularly grocery stores and pharmacies. Municipalities are advising residents, however, that they are responsible solely for their own face coverings, not for reporting or confronting others for not wearing a face mask or for wearing a different type.
– City of Somerville message to residents regarding face coverings
– City of Boston do-it-yourself face mask video
• Create “grab-and-go” meal pickup centers or meal delivery services for students and families who qualify for free lunches and breakfasts or who need assistance.
• Partner with local hotels and motels to provide temporary housing for residents who are recovering from COVID-19 but don’t require hospital care and need a place to quarantine without risking further spread of the virus.
– Cities of Revere and Chelsea open The Inn through a partnership with Quality Inn in Revere, Partners HealthCare, and a third-party management company
• Adopt a zero-tolerance policy for employees who demonstrate or report COVID-19 symptoms, and encourage employers to verify wellness by checking workers’ temperatures.
– City of Haverhill Executive Order
• Declare a curfew to further encourage people to stay home. Several cities have overnight curfews (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.), including Boston, Melrose, Lynn and Everett. Chelsea has issued a 24-hour curfew.
• Institute civil fines or other penalties for those who ignore rules against gathering in close-knit groups. Examples include fines for violators in Cohasset and Haverhill, and criminal trespassing summonses in Marshfield.
• Routinely disinfect municipal vehicles, particularly public safety, to help stem the spread of COVID-19.

Municipal operations
• Hold board and committee meetings virtually.
• Encourage online payment of municipal bills and/or set up a secure onsite bill payment drop box. Offer bill payment extensions, particularly for property taxes.
• Establish a by-appointment policy for other municipal business that may be necessary.
• Increase online availability of public library books and resources, and publicize through local community news sites. Ideas include videotaped story hours, puppet shows, and other activities for children.
– Auburn Public Library Stay Connected program

Helping others
• Create a volunteer signup form for individuals seeking to lend a hand to others. (Volunteers who register are contacted once assignments are identified.)
– City of Revere Coronavirus Volunteer Signup
• Use the local Community Preservation Act trust fund to create emergency housing/rental assistance programs.
– Lenox
– Chelsea
• Create programs to help tenants affected by the crisis pay their rent.
– North Andover set aside $100,000 from the town’s Affordable Housing Trust for emergency rental assistance.
• Establish charitable funds to support the essential needs of community members most impacted by the pandemic, including residents, businesses, employees, and first-responders.
– Newton Covid-19 Care Fund
– Somerville Cares Fund
– Lynn COVID-19 Community Care Fund
– Worcester Together Fund
– Boston Resiliency Fund
– One Chelsea Fund
• Support remote learning for low-income students.
– Greenfield’s GCET Equity Access Program offers free 25 Mbps internet connection for the rest of this school year.
• Publicize phone numbers for local domestic and sexual assault organizations and resources, and the recent expansion of SafeLink, the Commonwealth’s 24/7, toll-free and confidential domestic violence hotline, which now includes resources and support for survivors of sexual assault as well as domestic violence. (877-785-2020; TTY: 877-521-2601).
• Collect and publish race and ethnicity data to indicate COVID-19’s impact on various segments of the community.
– City of Boston Health Inequities Task Force (examining issues such as testing, community action, and understanding economic impact)
• Solicit local companies and individuals to donate or sell personal protective equipment for essential frontline workers through the Baker-Polito administration’s online portal.
• Encourage residents who are healthy and able to donate blood through the American Red Cross.

Related news
MassDOT awards $1 million in Shared Streets & Spaces grants – July 28
Municipal adaptations, collaborations are key to community resilience – July 28
Summertime brings more senior programs, but continued caution – July 23
In face of COVID, towns use creativity to conduct annual spring business – July 16
Libraries innovate through COVID emergency, seek funding support – July 8
Cities and towns rush to aid of their business communities – June 26
The many new looks of town meetings during COVID emergency – June 24
COVID puts damper on some summer traditions, but creative solutions arise as well – June 8
With time running short, towns pursue range of town meeting and election options – May 29
Local leaders work to boost morale and keep employees connected – May 29
City, town halls allowed to reopen under new rules, but most proceeding with caution – May 28
With a different look, farmers markets march on amid COVID crisis – May 14
Town meetings, elections rescheduled, but wait-and-see continues – April 30
Cities and towns act on urgent need to shelter homeless, first responders – April 22
Essential water, sewer services uninterrupted during COVID emergency – April 13
Local governments shifting gears to continue operations during COVID crisis – April 8
In midst of pandemic, towns scramble to change meetings, elections – March 30

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