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

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

02/07/2022 5:07 PM

Download the Weekly Update PDF

1. 2022 Dedham Census Mailings Delayed to Mid-February

The 2022 Dedham Town Census we be mailed out mid-February, a delay from past years when it was mailed out at the start of the new year. The Town Clerk made the decision to wait to mail out the 2022 Town Census to prevent confusion among Dedham residents who may have a change in voting precinct as a result of the reprecincting process that began in October 2021.

“Our main concern is if we send out the Town census before recording the final changes to the voting precincts, we may generate more questions from residents during the weeks leading up to Town elections and at a time when we are helping people register to vote, “ said Town Clerk Paul Munchbach.

The change in mailing date is due to the updated boundary changes to Dedham voting precincts determined by the State. The Town is currently awaiting final approval from the State on the new map. Once approved, the Town will publish and circulate the updated voting precinct map to residents.

Visit our website for a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the Town Census and the reprecincting of voting precincts here in Dedham.

2. Excise Tax Bills to be Mailed Out Friday, February 11, 2022

The Town of Dedham will be mailing out excise tax bills on Friday, February 11, 2022. Excise taxes are due 30 days from the issue date of the bill and can be paid online, by mail (with a check), or in-person at the Treasurer/Collector Office at Town Hall (2nd Floor). To drop off your payment outside of Town Hall business hours, please use the drop box located to the left of the front entrance to Town Hall.

The State of Massachusetts requires each registered own pay a tax on their motor vehicle or trailer, each year. Motor vehicles include cars, motorcycles, trucks, trailers, buses, and off-road vehicles. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) provides the value of each motor vehicle to the Dedham Assessors Office each year that is used to calculate the amount of each excise bill. To calculate the value, the RMV uses the age of the vehicle and the manufacturer’s list price from the year it was made (new), using the following schedule:

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• The minimum excise tax bill is $5. 
• The excise tax rate is $25 per $1,000 of assessed value. 

Payments received after the 30-day deadline may incur late fees or additional charges.

3. Board of Health Update – February 4, 2022

Below please find COVID-19 information as of February 3, 2022. More statistics can be found on www.mass.gov.

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NOTE: These numbers do not include people who tested positive with at-home antigen tests.

FDA Approves Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine – “Spikevax”

On January 31, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in a press release that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been fully authorized. Previously the vaccine was authorized for emergency use. The vaccine will now be marketed as Spikevax, with the same formulation, and is available for individuals 18 years and older.

Pfizer Seeks Approval to Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to 6 Months - 4 Years

In a February 1, 2022 press release, Pfizer announced that the company submitted a request to the FDA for emergency use authorization to administer their COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 6 months to 4 years old. The request will likely be granted in the next few days.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Residents 5 years and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and residents 12 years and older are eligible to get a COVID-19 booster. The Board encourages anyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. Vaccine appointments can be scheduled at vaxfinder.mass.gov/.

Board of Health Permits

The Board of Health issues numerous permits to residents and businesses as required by State and Local Regulations. Permits must be renewed on an annual basis. These permits include:

• Food Establishments (restaurants, one-day events, catering, farmers markets, and retail stores)
• Pools (public and semi-public)
• Tobacco Retailers
• Recreational Camps for Children
• Dumpsters
• Waste Haulers and Septic Installer
• Title 5 Septic Systems
• Tanning Facilities
• Wells
• Domestic Animals (including chickens)
• Cryogenic Chamber Therapy Establishments
• Saunas & Steam Rooms

Please contact the Health Department at (781) 751-9220 to learn more. 

4. MBTA to Host Two Public Meetings to Discuss Upcoming Fare Changes

The MBTA will be hosting two, virtual public meetings on February 10, 2022 and February 17, 2022 to review proposed fare changes that will take effect on July 1, 2022, if approved.

To register to attend the meetings, please use the links below:

• February 10, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom – Registration Link
• February 17, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom – Registration Link

The upcoming fare changes have been designed to equity by expanding their products for reduced fare riders and simplifying tariff rules.

Changes include:

• Permanent 5-Day FlexPasses
• Lower pricing for 1-Day LinkPasses
• A new 7-Day LinkPass for reduced fare riders
• Expanding Reduced Fare Monthly Passes to all modes
• Second transfers on bus and subway and transfers between Express Buses

Reminder: If approved, these changes will go into effect by July 1, 2022.

Please visit the MBTA website to learn more about the proposed fare changes and to submit your feedback regarding the proposed changes.

5. Public Safety Building Updates

What to expect February 7, 2022 (Monday) through February 11, 2022 (Friday):

• The project site remains closed to the public.
• Installation of interior and exterior cold formed metal framing and Densglass sheathing continues this week on all floors. Crews are nearing completion of exterior installations.
• Crews will be installing the air/vapor barrier along the south side of the building this week.
• Within the garage, crews will all continue to install 4” CMU walls.
• Roofers will continue to install the roof framing and parapet walls.
• Eversource Line Transfer Crews will continue working onsite to relocate the existing overhead utility lines from the existing poles to the newly installed poles along Bryant Street.
• 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.

Click on the images below to enlarge

Caption: Photo of active construction site taken using drone on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. The yellow walls along the south side of the building are the Densglass sheathing. The air/vapor barriers will continue to be installed this week along the south side of the building.

Caption: Photo of active construction site taken using drone on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Roofing materials stored onsite (stacked white boxes to the right of the photo) will continue to be installed this week by roofing subcontractors.

6. Meetings/Community Events

Wednesday 2/9/22:

• Planning Board at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom

Thursday, 2/10/22:

• MBTA Public Meeting about Fare Changes at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom

Events shown as listed on the Town calendar as of 2/7/22. Don't forget to check out the Dedham Public Library events calendar and the Dedham Public Schools calendar!

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