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News from the Town of Needham

Good afternoon, Needham!

All Town buildings will be closed Monday, February 21, 2022 for the President’s Day holiday.

With Spring on the horizon, Needham Park and Recreation will release its Spring program brochure next week. There are great offerings and opportunities for residents of all ages. We’ll include a link to register in next week’s newsletter.

COVID-19 Update

Needham Public Schools to Drop Mask Mandate March 7th, Create Mask-Friendly Learning Environments

In a letter sent to families Tuesday this week, Needham Public Schools Superintendent Dan Gutekanst said the Needham Public Schools will implement a mask friendly learning environment for all K-12 students and staff effective Monday, March 7th. The Joint Committee on Health and Safety, which has advised the Superintendent on how to operate the schools in safe and healthy way during the pandemic, has also recommended that for the time being Preschool staff and students remain masked.

The Superintendent’s decision follows the state’s annnouncement last week that it will lift the statewide in-school mask mandate effective Monday, February 28th. Given the likelihood of family travel over the upcoming break and possible increased risk of exposure, the mask mandate in Needham schools will be lifted the following week. Families are encouraged to engage in conversations with their children to determine their mask preferences. School staff will use the week after February vacation to share plans and expectations with students.

State Department of Public Health Revises Mask Guidance

The state Department of Public Health (DPH) on Tuesday revised its recommendation on indoor masking in public places, advising that it is only necessary for certain groups of people, including those at risk because they are more vulnerable to COVID-19.

DPH now advises that fully vaccinated people should wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home) if you have a weakened immune system, if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system and is at increased risk for severe disease or is unvaccinated. Masks are still required in health care facilities and on public transportation.

Masks are still recommended for unvaccinated individuals.

Nomination Papers for Town Elected Office Due Tuesday, February 22nd to the Town Clerk

The deadline to return nomination papers for Town Office is 5 PM Tuesday, February 22nd to the Town Clerk’s Office. The following positions are available:

• One Moderator for Three Years;

• One Member of the Select Board for Three Years;

• One Town Clerk for Three Years;

• One Assessor for Three Years;

• Three Members of School Committee for Three Years;

• One Trustee of Memorial Park (trustee of soldiers’ memorials – Veteran) for Three Years;

• One Trustee of Memorial Park (trustee of soldiers’ memorials – Non-Veteran) for Three Years

• Two Trustees of Needham Public Library for Three Years;

• Two Members of Board of Health for Three Years;

• One Member of Planning Board for Five Years;

• One Commissioner of Trust Funds for Three Years;

• One Member of Needham Housing Authority for Five Years;

• Two Members of Park and Recreation Commission for Three Years.

In addition, all Town Meeting Members must run for election this year due to the 2020 Federal Census redistricting. The Town Election will be held Tuesday, April 12th from 7 am to 8 pm.

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct A;

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct B;

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct C;

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct D;

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct E;

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct F;

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct G;

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct H;

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct I;

• Twenty-four Town Meeting Members from Precinct J.

Town Meeting Member Contact Forms Coming to the Town’s Website this Spring

After soliciting feedback last Fall from the community to determine how best to facilitate communication between residents and Town Meeting Members, the Town of Needham will implement an online contact system this Spring to allow residents to directly contact their Town Meeting Member representatives. These Contact Forms will be made available for each precinct on the Town’s website after the election, once all Town Meeting Members have had the opportunity to provide their email address to the Town Clerk. Town Meeting Member email addresses will not be viewable to members of the public unless a Town Meeting Member responds directly to an individual’s comment or question that was submitted via the Contact Form. Residents will only be able to contact their Precinct delegation, not individual Town Meeting Members through the forms.

While the Town hopes to have this in place before Town Meeting in May, given the short time between the Town Election and Town Meeting, the forms may be available shortly afterward Town Meeting. More information will be available after the Town Election. Thank you to all those who provided input during this process.

Community Event: Ryan’s Story: Building Resiliency Through Empowerment

CALENDAR OF MEETINGS & EVENTS

***Meetings are linked to the relevant agenda***

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Commissioners of Trust Funds, 4 pm, Town Hall, Great Plain Room
Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, 7:30 pm via Zoom
Human Rights Committee, 7:30 pm via Zoom
Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30 pm via Zoom


Friday, February 18, 2022

Broadmeadow School Council, 7:30 am via Zoom


Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Select Board Meeting, 6 pm, Town Hall, Powers Hall and via Zoom (Agenda to be posted by 5 pm Thurs


Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Trustees of Memorial Park, 7 pm, Memorial Park Field House

Events shown as listed on the Town calendar as of 2/17/22. Don't forget to check out the Needham Meeting and Events calendar for updated information.

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Town of Needham
1471 Highland Ave.
Needham, MA 02492
781-455-7500
www.needhamma.gov