Politics & Government
Town Of Dedham: What's Happening This Week Here In Dedham
Download the Weekly Update PDF
01/03/2022 5:58 PM
Find out what's happening in Dedhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
1. Updated Covid-19 Isolation and Quarantine Periods for the General Public
Effective immediately, Massachusetts has updated isolation and quarantine guidelines to align with recent CDC recommendations. CDC research indicates that, with the Omicron Variant, most COVID-19 transmission occurs early on when someone is sick – usually 1-2 days before the onset of symptoms and 2-3 days after symptom onset. As a result, the isolation period for people who test positive, and the quarantine period for people exposed to COVID-19, have been shortened. This information was issued in a CDC press release on December 27, 2021 and can be found on the State’s website.
Find out what's happening in Dedhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Dedham Health Department continues to review CDC recommendations and is in frequent communication with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). The Board of Health strongly urges anyone who is eligible to get vaccinated and boosted. Vaccine appointments can be scheduled through vaxfinder.mass.gov. Beginning January 6, 2022, the State will open additional mass vaccination sites including sites at Fenway Park and in Roxbury, that will provide vaccines to eligible residents ages 5 years and older, and boosters to residents ages 16 years and older. More information about these mass vaccination sites can be found in the State’s press release (December 28, 2021).
Updated Steps and Precautions to Protect Yourself and Others
(Download PDF card with guidelines)
What do I do if I have tested positive for COVID-19? ISOLATE
How to isolate:
- Stay at home for 5 days from symptom onset date or test date, whichever came first
- If you have no symptoms, or your symptoms resolve after 5 days, you can leave your house
- Continue to wear a mask when around others for an additional 5 days
- If you have a fever, stay home until you are fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must isolate!
What do I do if I have been exposed to someone infected with COVID-19? QUARANTINE
How to quarantine if you have been boosted or recently vaccinated:
If you have been boosted OR completed the primary series of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine within the last 6 months OR completed the primary series of the J&J vaccine within the last 2 months:
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days
- If possible, test on day 5
- If you develop symptoms, get tested and stay home
How to quarantine if you are unvaccinated, not boosted, or were not vaccinated recently:
If you completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted OR completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted OR are unvaccinated:
- Stay home for 5 days and continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days
- If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days
- Test on day 5 if possible
- If you develop symptoms, get tested and stay home
Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the Dedham Health Department at (781) 751-9220.
Reminder: Masks/face coverings are required when inside all municipal buildings, regardless of vaccination status, for individuals over the age of 2. (Except where an individual is unable to wear a face mask / face covering due to a medical condition or disability.)
2. Waste Management Provides January 2022 to June 2022 Trash/Recycling Calendar
As previously announced, the Town will be going out to bid for trash and recycling haulers for a new contract to begin on July 1, 2022. We anticipate the trash and recycling collection schedule to remain unchanged under the new contract, but will share updates with you as information becomes available. A copy of this calendar will be mailed to each household and is available for download and print using the calendar image linked below.
Please continue to put your trash and recycling at the curb on your regularly scheduled collection days, as shown in the calendar inserted below (click on calendar below to enlarge and download with street listing):
For future updates and announcements, please visit our website and subscribe for email notifications. And be sure to follow us on social media @DedhamDPW and @DedhamThrives!
If you have any questions about trash and recycling collection, please contact the DPW at 781-751-9350 and visit their website at www.dedham-ma.gov/dpw
Additional Trash/Recycling Updates for 2022
2022 Cardboard Recycling Dates
Once a month from January to June, the DPW will host a free, cardboard recycling event for Dedham residents to dispose of flattened cardboard materials all at once!
Event Dates: Saturday, January 15, 2022, Saturday, February 19, 2022, Saturday, March 19, 2022, Saturday, April 16, 2022, Saturday, May 21, 2022, and Saturday, June 18, 2022
When: 9:00 AM - Noon
Where: DPW Dumpster, 55 River Street, Dedham, MA
Bulky Item/White Good Disposal
Beginning January 1, 2022, residents will schedule and pay for the disposal of bulky items and white goods with Waste Management, directly. The Town will pay for all Bulky Item/White Good Disposal pickup that is scheduled by December 31, 2021 at the latest. Schedule and Pay for Disposal and Pick-Up with Waste Management by calling 1-800-972-4545
Disposal Fees (per item):
- Bulky Items = $30
- White Goods = $38
Beginning the week of December 27th throughout the month January 2022, the DPW will collect Christmas trees for disposal at no cost to residents. Please place your tree at the curb on your trash collection day. NOTE: Trees may not be collected on your regular trash day, but the DPW team will collect your tree for disposal. Please remove ALL tinsel, garland, lights, ornaments, and plastic for disposal
3. Planning & Zoning Department Seeks Planning Intern
The Town of Dedham’s Planning & Zoning Department is currently seeking a planning intern interested in participating in a team-oriented office, focused on land use and community development. Prospective candidates should have excellent communication skills, analytical writing skills, adaptability, and a desire to learn planning in a municipal setting.
- Undergraduate or Graduate enrollment in Urban Planning or closely related field
- Familiar with Microsoft Office, GIS, and other related tools
- Ability to read maps and plans
- Basic knowledge of Massachusetts Land Use law
- Communicate in a professional manner
All interested applicants are asked to please send a cover letter and resume to Jennifer Doherty at jdoherty@dedham-ma.gov or send a hardcopy to:
Jennifer Doherty
Planning & Zoning Department
450 Washington Street
Dedham, MA 02026
The position will remain open until filled.
4. Submit Written Comments/Questions to MBTA for East Street Bridge Project
The MBTA hosted a public information meeting on December 9 via Zoom to share an overview of the 30% design plans and to answer questions from the public. Those who were unable to attend or anyone with additional comments and questions are encouraged to submit them in writing to the project team at EastStBridge@mbta.com. Emails are sent directly to the project team who will provide a response as they are received.
Prior to the start of the virtual meeting, the MBTA project team emailed a copy of the presentation slides to those who had registered to attend the meeting and provided an email address. A copy of the meeting presentation, meeting flyer, and a meeting summary are available to download on the MBTA project website at mbta.com/EastStBridge and using the links below:
The MBTA has identified the East Street Bridge in Dedham as in need of repair and is proposing improvements to bring the bridge into a State of Good Repair, including increased vertical and horizontal clearances, sidewalks along East Street, wider travel lanes. The East Street Bridge was originally built in 1904 and carries the Franklin Commuter Rail Line over East Street, between the Endicott Station and Dedham Corporate Center Station.
5. Public Safety Building Updates
What to expect December 31, 2021 (Friday) through January 7, 2022 (Friday):
- The project site remains closed to the public.
- As of Wednesday, December 29, 2021, Eversource has installed three new utility poles along Bryant Street at the western side of the site.
- Carpenters onsite are continuing to build temporary windows to enclose the building for work to continue and to protect the interior of the building during the winter months and colder temperatures.
- Contractors are backfilling automatic transfer switch duct banks, generator pad foundations, and are preparing to excavate for the subsurface stormwater infiltration system.
- Beginning Monday, January 3, 2021, masons will commence the installation of the exterior brick veneer.
- Plumbers will be installing roof drain piping in the basement and overhead at the garage.
- Crews have begun to install spray fireproofing materials in the basement to protect structural elements from extreme temperatures and heat generated by fire.
- Installation of sprinkler/fire protection system piping is still underway.
- Materials for the roof have been delivered and will be installed at a later date.
- 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.
- No additional traffic impacts or pedestrian impacts are anticipated during this week.
Project Team Contact Information:
- Immediate issues or concerns, please contact the Dedham Town Manager’s Office at 781-751-9100.
- For general questions or concerns, please contact the project team at psb@dedham-ma.gov
- For more information about the Public Safety Building Project, please visit the project website at www.dedham-ma.gov/psb
- Download our project team contact information flyer on the project website.
6. Meetings/Community Events
Monday, 1/3/22:
- Dog Park Committee at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Tuesday, 1/4/22:
- Capital Expenditures Committee at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom
Wednesday, 1/5/22:
- Open Space & Recreation Committee at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Taxation Aid Committee at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Thursday, 1/6/22:
- Select Board at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom (Remote meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.)
- Board of Library Trustees at 7:00 p.m. at Dedham Public Library (43 Church Street)
Events shown as listed on the Town calendar as of 1/3/22. Don't forget to check out the Dedham Public Library events calendar and the Dedham Public Schools calendar!
SUBSCRIBE
Sign up to receive news, updates, and other announcements, delivered right to your inbox from the Town of Dedham on our website. The best part is, you can select the topics you are interested in and update this information at any time!
FOLLOW US!
Departments across Town have set up social media accounts to share information, as well as post about exciting news around Town. Visit our Social Media page to find the accounts you want to follow!
Download the Weekly Update PDF
1. Updated Covid-19 Isolation and Quarantine Periods for the General Public
Effective immediately, Massachusetts has updated isolation and quarantine guidelines to align with recent CDC recommendations. CDC research indicates that, with the Omicron Variant, most COVID-19 transmission occurs early on when someone is sick – usually 1-2 days before the onset of symptoms and 2-3 days after symptom onset. As a result, the isolation period for people who test positive, and the quarantine period for people exposed to COVID-19, have been shortened. This information was issued in a CDC press release on December 27, 2021 and can be found on the State’s website.
The Dedham Health Department continues to review CDC recommendations and is in frequent communication with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). The Board of Health strongly urges anyone who is eligible to get vaccinated and boosted. Vaccine appointments can be scheduled through vaxfinder.mass.gov. Beginning January 6, 2022, the State will open additional mass vaccination sites including sites at Fenway Park and in Roxbury, that will provide vaccines to eligible residents ages 5 years and older, and boosters to residents ages 16 years and older. More information about these mass vaccination sites can be found in the State’s press release (December 28, 2021).
Updated Steps and Precautions to Protect Yourself and Others
(Download PDF card with guidelines)
What do I do if I have tested positive for COVID-19? ISOLATE
How to isolate:
- Stay at home for 5 days from symptom onset date or test date, whichever came first
- If you have no symptoms, or your symptoms resolve after 5 days, you can leave your house
- Continue to wear a mask when around others for an additional 5 days
- If you have a fever, stay home until you are fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must isolate!
What do I do if I have been exposed to someone infected with COVID-19? QUARANTINE
How to quarantine if you have been boosted or recently vaccinated:
If you have been boosted OR completed the primary series of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine within the last 6 months OR completed the primary series of the J&J vaccine within the last 2 months:
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days
- If possible, test on day 5
- If you develop symptoms, get tested and stay home
How to quarantine if you are unvaccinated, not boosted, or were not vaccinated recently:
If you completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted OR completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted OR are unvaccinated:
- Stay home for 5 days and continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days
- If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days
- Test on day 5 if possible
- If you develop symptoms, get tested and stay home
Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the Dedham Health Department at (781) 751-9220.
Reminder: Masks/face coverings are required when inside all municipal buildings, regardless of vaccination status, for individuals over the age of 2. (Except where an individual is unable to wear a face mask / face covering due to a medical condition or disability.)
2. Waste Management Provides January 2022 to June 2022 Trash/Recycling Calendar
As previously announced, the Town will be going out to bid for trash and recycling haulers for a new contract to begin on July 1, 2022. We anticipate the trash and recycling collection schedule to remain unchanged under the new contract, but will share updates with you as information becomes available. A copy of this calendar will be mailed to each household and is available for download and print using the calendar image linked below.
Please continue to put your trash and recycling at the curb on your regularly scheduled collection days, as shown in the calendar inserted below (click on calendar below to enlarge and download with street listing):
For future updates and announcements, please visit our website and subscribe for email notifications. And be sure to follow us on social media @DedhamDPW and @DedhamThrives!
If you have any questions about trash and recycling collection, please contact the DPW at 781-751-9350 and visit their website at www.dedham-ma.gov/dpw
Additional Trash/Recycling Updates for 2022
2022 Cardboard Recycling Dates
Once a month from January to June, the DPW will host a free, cardboard recycling event for Dedham residents to dispose of flattened cardboard materials all at once!
Event Dates: Saturday, January 15, 2022, Saturday, February 19, 2022, Saturday, March 19, 2022, Saturday, April 16, 2022, Saturday, May 21, 2022, and Saturday, June 18, 2022
When: 9:00 AM - Noon
Where: DPW Dumpster, 55 River Street, Dedham, MA
Bulky Item/White Good Disposal
Beginning January 1, 2022, residents will schedule and pay for the disposal of bulky items and white goods with Waste Management, directly. The Town will pay for all Bulky Item/White Good Disposal pickup that is scheduled by December 31, 2021 at the latest. Schedule and Pay for Disposal and Pick-Up with Waste Management by calling 1-800-972-4545
Disposal Fees (per item):
- Bulky Items = $30
- White Goods = $38
Beginning the week of December 27th throughout the month January 2022, the DPW will collect Christmas trees for disposal at no cost to residents. Please place your tree at the curb on your trash collection day. NOTE: Trees may not be collected on your regular trash day, but the DPW team will collect your tree for disposal. Please remove ALL tinsel, garland, lights, ornaments, and plastic for disposal
3. Planning & Zoning Department Seeks Planning Intern
The Town of Dedham’s Planning & Zoning Department is currently seeking a planning intern interested in participating in a team-oriented office, focused on land use and community development. Prospective candidates should have excellent communication skills, analytical writing skills, adaptability, and a desire to learn planning in a municipal setting.
- Undergraduate or Graduate enrollment in Urban Planning or closely related field
- Familiar with Microsoft Office, GIS, and other related tools
- Ability to read maps and plans
- Basic knowledge of Massachusetts Land Use law
- Communicate in a professional manner
All interested applicants are asked to please send a cover letter and resume to Jennifer Doherty at jdoherty@dedham-ma.gov or send a hardcopy to:
Jennifer Doherty
Planning & Zoning Department
450 Washington Street
Dedham, MA 02026
The position will remain open until filled.
4. Submit Written Comments/Questions to MBTA for East Street Bridge Project
The MBTA hosted a public information meeting on December 9 via Zoom to share an overview of the 30% design plans and to answer questions from the public. Those who were unable to attend or anyone with additional comments and questions are encouraged to submit them in writing to the project team at EastStBridge@mbta.com. Emails are sent directly to the project team who will provide a response as they are received.
Prior to the start of the virtual meeting, the MBTA project team emailed a copy of the presentation slides to those who had registered to attend the meeting and provided an email address. A copy of the meeting presentation, meeting flyer, and a meeting summary are available to download on the MBTA project website at mbta.com/EastStBridge and using the links below:
The MBTA has identified the East Street Bridge in Dedham as in need of repair and is proposing improvements to bring the bridge into a State of Good Repair, including increased vertical and horizontal clearances, sidewalks along East Street, wider travel lanes. The East Street Bridge was originally built in 1904 and carries the Franklin Commuter Rail Line over East Street, between the Endicott Station and Dedham Corporate Center Station.
5. Public Safety Building Updates
What to expect December 31, 2021 (Friday) through January 7, 2022 (Friday):
- The project site remains closed to the public.
- As of Wednesday, December 29, 2021, Eversource has installed three new utility poles along Bryant Street at the western side of the site.
- Carpenters onsite are continuing to build temporary windows to enclose the building for work to continue and to protect the interior of the building during the winter months and colder temperatures.
- Contractors are backfilling automatic transfer switch duct banks, generator pad foundations, and are preparing to excavate for the subsurface stormwater infiltration system.
- Beginning Monday, January 3, 2021, masons will commence the installation of the exterior brick veneer.
- Plumbers will be installing roof drain piping in the basement and overhead at the garage.
- Crews have begun to install spray fireproofing materials in the basement to protect structural elements from extreme temperatures and heat generated by fire.
- Installation of sprinkler/fire protection system piping is still underway.
- Materials for the roof have been delivered and will be installed at a later date.
- 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.
- No additional traffic impacts or pedestrian impacts are anticipated during this week.
Project Team Contact Information:
- Immediate issues or concerns, please contact the Dedham Town Manager’s Office at 781-751-9100.
- For general questions or concerns, please contact the project team at psb@dedham-ma.gov
- For more information about the Public Safety Building Project, please visit the project website at www.dedham-ma.gov/psb
- Download our project team contact information flyer on the project website.
6. Meetings/Community Events
Monday, 1/3/22:
- Dog Park Committee at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Tuesday, 1/4/22:
- Capital Expenditures Committee at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom
Wednesday, 1/5/22:
- Open Space & Recreation Committee at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Taxation Aid Committee at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Thursday, 1/6/22:
- Select Board at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom (Remote meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.)
- Board of Library Trustees at 7:00 p.m. at Dedham Public Library (43 Church Street)
Events shown as listed on the Town calendar as of 1/3/22. Don't forget to check out the Dedham Public Library events calendar and the Dedham Public Schools calendar!
SUBSCRIBE
Sign up to receive news, updates, and other announcements, delivered right to your inbox from the Town of Dedham on our website. The best part is, you can select the topics you are interested in and update this information at any time!
FOLLOW US!
Departments across Town have set up social media accounts to share information, as well as post about exciting news around Town. Visit our Social Media page to find the accounts you want to follow!
This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
