Politics & Government

Town Of Dedham: What's Happening This Week Here In Dedham

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Press Release Desk, News Partner

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

08/23/2021 12:00 AM

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Find out what's happening in Dedhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

DEDHAM SQUARE PARKING METER INSTALLATION PROGRESS AND UPDATE (8/23/21)

The construction and installation of additional parking meters in Dedham Square is underway and will include temporary removal of brick pavers, masonry sawing and installation of electrical conduit. Removal of old parking kiosks, installation of new utility boxes, meters, and Wi-Fi equipment. Meters will be installed in the same area formerly managed by the parking kiosks, excluding the new outdoor seating areas.

Find out what's happening in Dedhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The contractor has provided the following anticipated schedule for upcoming work in the area, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.:

  • Week of August 23 - Along both sides of Washington Street between Bryant and High.
  • Week of August 30 - Clean-up of both sides of Washington Street between Bryant and High. Start work on the east side of Washington Street, north of High.
  • Week of September 6 - Clean-up the east side of Washington Street, north of High. Start work for the parallel spaces on the east side of Eastern Avenue, abutting the Keystone parking lot.

Free parking available in Dedham Square during construction:

Parking meters in the "Courts" zone are active (as of June 7, 2021). That zone includes High Street and Court Street, west of Washington Street. The meters are active between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday

Tips for Using New Parking Meters:

  • First 10 minutes are free. Pay before you leave to take advantage of this 10-minute grace period and avoid a ticket
  • Parking Meters are active between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday
  • Payment available by card, coins, or through the mobile app (Sentry Mobile app)
  • Parking Meter will automatically detect your car when you park
  • You will only be charged a fine if you leave without paying

Additional Information:

WEEKLY BOARD OF HEALTH UPDATE - COVID-19 VACCINES, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, ETC.

The Board reports that as of Thursday, August 19th, there have been 2,532 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Town. This is an increase of 22 cases from last week’s update. Currently, there are 23 active confirmed cases. The Commonwealth is not sequencing all positive COVID-19 specimens, and as a result, it cannot be determined that all cases are related to the Delta Variant.

COVID-19 Vaccine

The Board encourages anyone who is eligible and unvaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone 12 years and older is eligible for the vaccine. The vaccine is safe, free, and effective – even against the Delta variant. Getting vaccinated will help Dedham get back to normal. 

Go to Vaxfinder.mass.gov or contact your local pharmacy or healthcare provider for information about getting the vaccine.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends a third dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine for some individuals with compromised immune systems. This recommendation is for people with the following conditions:

  • Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
  • Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Residents who have questions about whether a third dose of vaccine is recommended for them should contact their healthcare provider to discuss these recommendations.

Face Masks Required in All Town of Dedham Municipal Buildings

Effective August 10th, face masks are required inside municipal buildings for all individuals aged 2 years or older, regardless of vaccination status. Individuals unable to wear a face mask due to a medical condition or disability are exempt. According to the CDC’s Risk Map, Norfolk County remains at substantial risk for COVID-19 transmission.

MassNotify

MassNotify is a tool that works through smartphones to privately alert users who may have been exposed to COVID-19. You can enable MassNotify on your iPhone or Android phone to add another tool to our fight against the spread of COVID-19. 

  • By opting in, your smartphone will share anonymous codes with other MassNotify users using your phone’s Bluetooth.
  • MassNotify codes contain no personal information or location data and are completely anonymous.
  • If another user you’ve been near tests positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period, you will be notified. If you test positive, you can easily and anonymously notify others to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Chickens in Dedham

The Board would like to remind residents that anyone keeping chickens in Dedham must receive a permit through the Health Department. A Domestic Animals Permit Application must be submitted to the Health Department for review. The application process includes the submission of chicken coop plans, coop set-back requirements, abutter notifications, and more. Please be aware, roosters are not allowed in Dedham. Please contact the Health Department at (781) 751-9220 to learn more.

DSPC TO HOST COMMUNITY EVET ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

On September 14, 2021, the Dedham Square Planning Committee (DSPC) is holding another virtual community event that will serve as the culmination of a series of public meetings and community outreach from the past two years. To date, the DSPC has held a total of nine public meetings with hundreds of residents and other stakeholders, including four community meetings: two with the Council on Aging at the Senior Center, one for merchants and local businesses, and one for neighbors of the property.

At a public meeting in February 2021, over 170 people attended and provided constructive and vital feedback to the DSPC about the future of the building. Using this feedback, the DSPC voted in March to recommend the Select Board pursue a green space or park in place of the current building.

The land at 600 High Street was originally donated to the town for civic purposes in the 1800s. The site first housed Memorial Hall, built in the late 1800s, a monument dedicated to the forty-seven "sons of Dedham" who lost their lives fighting in the Civil War. Memorial Hall was torn down in 1962 and in 1964 the current Police Station was built in its place.

With the construction of the combined Public Safety Building underway next to Town Hall, the Planning Board and Select Board identified the importance of this Police Station property and its strategic location within the community. To develop a plan for this property, the Planning Board reconvened the DSPC in 2019 and charged them with the research and development of a plan and recommendation for the future of 600 High Street to present to the Select Board. The DSPC is made up of representatives from every neighborhood to ensure the wants, needs, concerns, and questions of each part of Dedham are heard and considered. Planning Board Vice-Chair Michael Podolski and Planning Board member Jessica Porter serve as co-Chairs.

Over the course of two years, the DSPC has studied the economic, community, and environmental impacts of three possible scenarios for this property: sell the building, rehabilitate the building for reuse, or demolish the building. During this time, DSPC wasted no time and held regular meetings, conducted research, facilitated focus groups, and connected with experts to fully understand the challenges and opportunities to both support our small businesses and create a dynamic space for all in Dedham to enjoy.

So, what comes next and how can you get involved? As the DSPC prepares to issue a final report and recommendation to the Select Board, they are seeking the help of the community to fine tune what this will include. Sign up to attend this virtual event using the link: bit.ly/WhatIsNextFor600HighStreet and participate in the development of this DSPC recommendation for the park.

It is the unrelenting goal of the DSPC to provide an opportunity for each Dedham resident to participate in this process and take pride in the outcome that will serve this community for years to come. To learn more about the DSPC and about this project, please contact John Sisson at jsisson@dedham-ma.gov

SELECT BOARD VOTES ON FALL TOWN MEETING DATE

Mark your calendars! At their August 12, 2021 public meeting, the Select Board voted to hold the Fall Town Meeting on Monday, November 15, 2021. The Select Board also voted to close the Warrant on September 3, 2021 by the close of business.

Where can I learn more about Town Meeting?

A dedicated website will be created for the Fall Town Meeting that will include meeting information, copies of the warrant, public meeting schedules, and other informational resources. We also encourage you to sign up to receive email notifications and updates about Fall Town Meeting at www.dedham-ma.gov/subscribe and select "Elections & Voting" from the list.

Where can I learn more about Representative Town Meeting?

Article 2 of the Town of Dedham Charter explains each aspect of Representative Town Meeting and its role as the local legislative body. Use this link to access the Town Charter, Article 2: Representative Town Meeting.

PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING PROJECT UPDATES

What to expect August 23, 2021 (Monday) through August 27, 2021 (Friday):

  • The project site remains closed to the public.
  • The dewatering system remains in place and operational.
  • Waterproofing and damp proofing of the foundation walls is nearing completion. Crews will address remaining work this week, beginning Monday, August 23, 2021.
  • Steel installation will continue using the crane located onsite. To date, approximately 1,064 pieces of steel have been installed.
  • Deliveries of steel and metal decking will continue this week.
  • Expect periodic entrance and exit of large trucks at the project site entrance, located at the intersection of Washington Street and Bryant Street. Please expect minor traffic delays at this intersection.
  • To maintain an efficient and organized jobsite, crews will continue to remove excess material for the site.
  • No additional traffic impacts or pedestrian impacts are anticipated during this week. 

For more information and to sign up for weekly construction updates, visit the Public Safety Building Project page.

PUBLIC MEETINGS & COMMUNITY EVENTS THIS WEEK

Tuesday, 8/24/21:

Wednesday, 8/25/21:

Friday, 8/27/21:

Events shown as listed on the Town calendar as of 8/23/21. Don't forget to check out the Dedham Public Library events calendar!

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This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

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