Brookline Town Hall to Begin Phased Public Re-Opening

BROOKLINE — Town Administrator Mel Kleckner announces that Brookline Town Hall will re-open to the public on a limited basis.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 17, Town Hall will begin the initial phase of its gradual re-opening by offering select services to members of the public in-person by appointment only. Residents may make an appointment between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday for business with the Town Clerk’s Office, the Office of the Treasurer and Collector and Select Board only.

All visitors to Town Hall will be directed to a concierge desk on the first floor, which will help facilitate appointments and answer questions. 

“I am proud of the work town staff has done over the last six months to ensure that residents could continue to rely on a high level of service and having their needs met,” Kleckner said. “Town Hall never truly ‘closed,’ but re-opening the building to the public is a major milestone that would not have been possible without extensive planning and teamwork, as well as a continued commitment by all to doing their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Residents can find more information about Town Hall’s re-opening, including updates for specific departments, by clicking here.

Make Appointments Online

• To make an appointment with the Select Board’s Office, click here.
• To make an appointment with the Office of the Treasurer and Collector, click here.
• To make an appointment with the Town Clerk’s Office, click here.

Residents who need to conduct business with town offices beyond the three that will open beginning Aug. 17 should call the department they need to reach directly. Department contact information can be found using this directory. 

Early Voting

Town Hall will be open for early voting for the primary election on the following dates and times:

• Aug. 22 and 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Aug. 24-26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Aug. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Aug. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Those wishing to file warrant articles for Town Meeting should remember that the warrant closes at noon on Thursday, Sept. 3. Appointments should be made in advance of the closing of the warrant. 

What to Expect When Visiting Town Hall

When visiting Town Hall for an appointment, residents should wear face coverings, maintain six feet for social distancing, and wash their hands/use hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the building. Town staff will also be wearing face coverings and washing their hands frequently.

All visitors must check in with the Town Hall concierge on the first floor, where they will have their appointment information confirmed. Visitors will review the required COVID Self Certification, provide contact tracing information and have their temperature taken.

Residents are encouraged to use the town’s online resources and the drop box at Town Hall. There will also be a Drop Box at the Concierge Desk.

Office occupancy is still at 50 percent of its usual capacity, unless departments have received public health exemptions due to operational needs. At this time, the Municipal Service Center, Public Safety Building and Public Health Building will remain closed to the public.

The initial phase of re-opening is expected to continue through Friday, Sept. 4, after which the town expects to transition into the Intermediate Phase of re-opening, which will result in additional offices opening to the public on a by-appointment basis. 

General updates on the town’s coronavirus response efforts can be found at BrooklineCOVID19.com.

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