MONTAGUE — Town Hall and several other town buildings have reopened to the public, after shutting their doors in March due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Still, buildings have rules to minimize the risk of transmitting the coronavirus, and residents are encouraged to conduct business by phone or online when possible.
“We still want to avoid unnecessary public interaction where possible,” said Town Administrator Steve Ellis. “But not all business is best handled remotely, and not all people are comfortable doing business remotely.”
Town Hall is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-ins are accommodated whenever possible.
Traffic through Town Hall is all one-way. Visitors must enter through the back doors, by the parking lot, and exit through the front door on Avenue A. (Exceptions can be made for people with limited mobility.)
At the entrance, an attendant checks visitors’ temperatures and asks screening questions to determine if it is safe to allow them inside. All visitors must wear face masks, and must use hand sanitizer at the door.
Since Town Hall opened on June 25, Ellis said the number of visitors has not been overwhelming, and people seem to appreciate being able to conduct business in person again.
Some other town buildings also reopened last week. The Police Department, Water Pollution Control Facility, Turners Falls Airport offices and the Parks and Recreation office at Unity Park all have reopened.
The Department of Public Works is available for outdoor drop-off and appointments, the libraries offer curbside pickup and delivery, and the Gill-Montague Senior Center is only offering outreach services until further notice.
Reach Max Marcus at
mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.