Bristol Town Office Closed to the Public Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 (Until Further Notice)

For More information Contact:

Town of Bristol                                  

Office of the Select Board – Town Administrator Nicholas J. Coates (Nik)            

5 School Street                                  

Bristol, NH 03222                             

(603) 744-3354

[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 20, 2020

Bristol Town Office Closed to the Public Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 (Until Further Notice)

The Bristol Select Board continues to actively monitor the COVID-19 situation, which is rapidly evolving. The Town is committed to the continued health and optimal safety of our residents as well as our employees, and we intend to do our part to “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, in consultation with our Emergency Management Director and Health Officer, we have decided that effective Monday, March 23, 2020, the Town Office at 5 School Street will be closed to the public until further notice.

However, the Town will still be working to serve the residents of Bristol. We intend to do our best to operate as a “Virtual Town Office.” In today’s world, most of the transactions for our residents can be done online or arranged via phone, email, or drop box. Resident questions can and will be answered via phone or email. And as a last resort, you may schedule an appointment in the Town Office with the appropriate Town personnel to complete your transaction. Our Town Office employees will be working both remotely and on-site (in very limited numbers as necessary)—but we will continue to be at your service.

Fire and Police: Of course, our incredible Police and Fire Departments will continue to serve the residents of our Town on a “business as usual” basis; however, we ask that you please keep all non-emergency calls to a minimum so that they may devote their time to those residents in need of emergency services. If you have non-emergency COVID-19 related questions, please call 2-1-1 (a state hotline manned 24/7 specifically for such questions).

PUBLIC MEETINGS: With the exception of the Planning Board meeting on March 25, all Town board and committee meetings in March will be cancelled and more information will be forthcoming about meetings in April and beyond.

Finally, rest assured that we will be monitoring all local developments related to COVID-19, and as your Town officials, we are committed to timely and ongoing communication about any and all changes to our operating status as well as any recommendations to the public from public health and other government officials. Updated information can be found on the front page in the news section of the Town website, Town’s Facebook page (“Town of Bristol”), and public access television channel. Please check these often.

Please see the following pages for how we intend to operate our Virtual Town Office.

“HOW TO” COMPLETE TOWN OFFICE TRANSACTIONS

WEBSITE: The Town website address is www.townofbristolnh.org, and we encourage you to visit the website frequently for new information and updates.

TOWN OFFICE MAILING ADDRESS: Should you need mail anything to the Town Office, the address is as follows:

(Specify which Department, if possible)

Bristol Town Office

5 School Street

Bristol, NH 03222

DROP BOXES: At the Town Clerk/Meeting Room entrance to Town Office, there is a secure, green drop box where you may drop off checks (NO CASH) or other paperwork. Should your paperwork not fit, please refer to the list of contacts below to make alternative arrangements.

TOWN OFFICE GENERAL TELEPHONE NUMBER: (603) 744-3354 (See contacts below for specific extensions).

TRANSACTIONS: The following is a list of the transactions most often performed for our residents in the Town Office, and directions as to how each may be accomplished until the COVID-19 crisis passes and we can safely re-open our doors:

• Renewal of a car registration: Should be done online via our website portal: https://www.townofbristolnh.org/home/pages/online-payments
• Registration and title transfers of a newly purchased vehicle: We are working to establish a drive-up window process for NEW registrations, titles and transfers; we will make information regarding the logistics for this process available later this week. No one will be penalized for late transactions while we worked out a process.
• Copies of vital records (birth or death certificates): Should be requested online via our website portal at https://www.townofbristolnh.org/town-clerk-tax-collector/pages/vital-statistics or by contacting Town Clerk/Tax Collector Raymah Simpson at [email protected] or ext. 115.
• Tax, Water and Sewer payments: Can be made in one of three ways: (1) online via our website portal (https://www.townofbristolnh.org/home/pages/online-payments); (2) via mail (checks ONLY and post dates will be honored as the date of payment); or (3) via dropping your check in the drop box (the secure green drop box outside of the Town Office (again, no cash). Contact Town Clerk/Tax Collector Raymah Simpson at [email protected] or ext. 115 or Water/Sewer Office Manager Audrey Landry at [email protected] or (603) 744-8411.
• Dog licensing: Renewals can be done online (https://www.townofbristolnh.org/home/pages/online-payments); registration of new dogs by contacting Town Clerk/Tax Collector Raymah Simpson ahead of time at at [email protected] or ext. 115).
• Boat registration: Can be done by contacting Town Clerk/Tax Collector Raymah Simpson ahead of time at [email protected] or ext. 115).
• Voter Registration: Contact Town Clerk/Tax Collector Raymah Simpson at [email protected] or ext. 115).
• Property Record Cards: Can be accessed on the Assessing page of the website at https://www.townofbristolnh.org/assessing-department
• Filing for Exemptions and Credits: Information for verification or renewal can be sent by mail or dropped off in the drop box; questions can be directed to Land Use/Assessing Manager ([email protected] or ext. 112).
• Intents to Cut and Intents to Excavate: Can be mailed or scanned/sent to Land Use/Assessing Manager Christina Goodwin ([email protected]).
• Verification of Owners on Abutters List: Already created abutters lists can be emailed for ownership verification to Land Use/Assessing Manager Christina Goodwin ([email protected]).
• Land Use permits: Permit applications are available on the Town website at https://www.townofbristolnh.org/permitting-and-enforcement and will be accepted via email, mail or drop box outside the Town Office. Payments are to be made by check only. Should you need to drop off plans or applications which will not fit in the drop box, please contact Peter Daniels at ext. 118.
• Building plan reviews: Will be accepted via email, mail or drop box outside the Town Office. If necessary, we will arrange a phone conversation to go over plan questions; please contact Tyler Simonds at ext. 117.
• Driveway Permits, road-related issues, snow plowing and roadway drainage: Contact Highway Department Superintendent Mark Bucklin at [email protected] or (603) 744-2441.
• Trash and Recycling general questions: Contact Highway Department Superintendent Mark Bucklin at [email protected] or (603) 744-2441.
• Water/Sewer related questions: Contact Water/Sewer Office Manager Audrey Landry at [email protected] or (603) 744-8411.
• To file land use board submissions (including Planning Board, Zoning Board, Conservation Commission), or to review property files, site plans, subdivision plans, etc., contact Tyler Simonds at [email protected] to arrange.
• GIS/Maps: Visit https://www.townofbristolnh.org/assessing-department or contact Tyler Simonds at [email protected].
• Assessing related questions: Contact Land Use/Assessing Manager at [email protected] or ext. 112.
• Tax questions: Contact Town Clerk/Tax Collector Raymah Simpson at [email protected] or ext. 115

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

Have a question for a particular department? Please contact the following staff members either via email or by phone.

Of course, should you have a general question and you are not sure who to call, please contact our Administration officials as follows:

• Town Administrator Nik Coates: [email protected] or (603) 744-3354 ext. 128.
• Executive Assistant/Bookkeeper Wendy Smith: [email protected] ext. 128.