COVID-19: Local Closures and Remote Services
Local closures and remote services
The following organizations and departments are currently reporting closures, reduced hours, remote-only services, or modified operations due to COVID-19:
Bristol Town Offices
The Bristol Town Offices are open as of July 29, 2020. For more information regarding COVID-19 modifications and accessibility, as well as options for virtual transactions, drop box information, and more, click here.
Update June 5: Video with Town Administrator Nik Coates, who provides a general update on the Town regarding reopening, upcoming tax bills, beaches, the recent Black Lives Matter rally, and more. https://vimeo.com/427846175
Update April 5: Video with Town Administrator Nik Coates dicussing number of cases in Bristol, how town operations have been adjusted, town boards and committees meeting online, and how the financial state of Bristol is impacted: https://vimeo.com/407158092
Police and Fire: Of course, our 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: The main meeting room is currently the only meeting room available for committee meetings. Furniture will be arranged according to CDC, DHHS, and Emergency Order guidelines. The Select Board and other committees will hold in-person meetings at the Town Office. The public will have the ability to attend meetings. Select Board meetings will be livestreamed on Atlantic Broadband Channel 24 and the public can participate by calling 744-3354 x 190 then entering the password 1111#.
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.
Bristol Police Department
Responding to crime, limiting non-emergency face-to-face contact
In order to continue providing the best police services to the Bristol community the Bristol PD will be limiting our face-to-face interactions when possible. We are concerned with the health and well-being of our staff as well as the public we serve. As this virus continues to spread our goal is to maintain a healthy police force for the continuation of services without resorting to contingency plans.
Therefore, until further notice the Bristol PD IS NOT taking walk-ins for fingerprints or responding to VIN checks.
Also, please call in to the station rather than walk in for non-emergencies. As a temporary change, non-emergency matters may be reported over the phone and an officer will be assigned to follow-up with you. This applies to a variety of less serious offenses that ARE NOT IN PROGRESS. In these cases, officers will be utilizing email for statements or photos needed for the report. We have not reduced or restricted our emergency personnel.
If it is determined that a response by an officer is warranted please understand that they are likely to keep a “safe distance” and unlikely to shake hands, etc. Again, this is out of an abundance of caution to keep our staff and the public safe and not an indicator of the officers’ friendliness or willingness to help.
OFFICERS WILL ALWAYS RESPOND TO CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AND CRIMES AGAINST A PERSON.
Rest assured that we are here for you, as you would expect. IF YOU NEED US CALL US. The only thing we are temporarily changing is the manner in which we provide our services not the quality of the services we provide.
Bristol Fire Department
In an effort to reduce exposure to our first responders and the public we are asking that all permits be obtained through the online portal. Click the link below to be taken to the NH Online Fire Permitting site:
Seasonal and Daily Burning Permit Portal
***Category I and II permits are issued for the season. Category III (brush) permits are issued for the date range on the permit. Check website or Fire Station for current Fire Weather daily!***
Permits must be printed and signed to be valid. They are also $3 each (the fee for the payment vendor)
We apologize for the inconvenience, but are asking the community NOT to come to the station for a permit. You must have a permit, and may obtain it online. If you can not access this system or do not wish to pay the fee, and have the ability to print, we can email a permit to you. Send a request to [email protected]. Include: your full name, address/location of fire, type of permit (seasonal/same as last year or brush), phone number, and email address. A permit will be emailed within 48 hours, and will need to be printed and signed.
We will advise as soon as possible when we are back to normal operations.
Bristol Highway Department
Beginning Saturday, March 21, cardboard will not be sorted at Bristol's Transfer Station. Small amounts can be thrown in the compactor with the general trash.
Minot-Sleeper Library
The library is now open, with a building capacity of 15 patrons at a time. Face coverings are required.
Books, movies, and magazines can be borrowed and picked up curbside.
Requests for items can be made through your library card account at https://minotsleeper.nhais.bywatersolutions.com/, or by calling 603-744-3352 or emailing [email protected]. Please review the steps for placing requests and how to pick up items at: www.minotsleeperlibrary.org/curbside.html.
Information about interlibrary loan, printing and computer services, borrowing museum passes, making book donations to the library, access to the building, our meeting room, and butterfly garden can be found at www.minotsleeperlibrary.org/curbside.html.
For the safety of our staff and patrons who have an allergy to latex, we ask that you please try to use gloves that are latex-free when handling library materials.
Please direct questions to [email protected].
Newfound Area School District
Approved School re-opening plan 2020-2021
COVID-19 updates for the 2020-2021 school year
Tapply-Thompson Community Center
The TTCC will be offering many of the usual fall programs with COVID-19 restrictions in place. For more information regarding specific programs and events:
Bristol Community Services
The thrift store and food pantry are both open. For more information, see the Community Services Facebook page.
Newfound Lake Region Association
Letter to community about closure, how to stay engaged in Newfound community
Dear Friends,
The Newfound Lake Region Association continues to monitor the Coronavirus outbreak and is committed to following CDC guidelines to protect our staff, members, and the public. For this reason the NLRA office at 10 N Main St, Bristol, NH is open by appointment only. Please call 603-744-8689 or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment.
Restaurants
Restaurants in Grafton county may operate at full capacity with indoor and outdoor seating with tables spaced six feet apart. For more information, please refer to Governor Sununu's COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Restaurants.
Hotels and other lodging
Hotels, Motels, B&B’s, Cabin Communities and similar accommodations are open to the public, including short-term rentals, and may accept overnight reservations from New England residents or non-New England visitors who have met the 14 day quarantine requirement. Reservations may be accepted by phone, online, or in person. For more information, please refer to Governor Sununu's COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Hotels and Lodging.
Department of Motor Vehicles
The New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announces the expansion of appointment-based services to three additional locations. Starting Monday, May 11, Salem, Nashua, and Keene will open for appointment only services, in addition to Concord, Dover, Manchester, Newport, and Twin Mountain.
The following appointment only services will resume on Monday, May 11:
- Motorcycle permit testing – by appointment only. Call 227-4000 to schedule an appointment.
- Motorcycle testing – by appointment only, limited to the Concord location. Call 227-4020 to schedule an appointment.
- Motorcycle Rider Training classes. Call 227-4025 to register for a class.
- In-person driver license renewals are available for customers whose licenses have expired or will expire by November 30, 2020 – by appointment only. Call 227-4000 to schedule an appointment. Customers are encouraged to renew at www.nh.gov/dmv, if eligible.
Customers transferring a license from another state – by appointment only. Call 227-4000 to schedule an appointment.
The DMV offers the following important service reminders:
Driver Licenses
- Non-Commercial Driver License driving road tests are not currently being conducted.
- All Commercial Driver License related transactions can be conducted by appointment only. Call 227-4000 to schedule an appointment.
- Customers whose licenses have expired or will expire by June 30, 2020 may apply for a 6-month license extension.
- Call 227-4020 to apply for the 6-month license extension over the phone. Customers are encouraged to renew at www.nh.gov/dmv, if eligible.
- The REAL ID compliance deadline has been extended until October, 2021. REAL ID transactions will not be conducted for the duration of the Stay at Home Order.
Vehicle Registrations
- Existing vehicle registrations are renewed by your city or town clerk’s office. Please visit your town website or call your local town clerk’s office for vehicle registration renewal options.
- NH DMV 20-day plates as well as NH authorized dealer 20-day plates, issued on or after February 26, 2020 have been given an automatic extension through May 31, 2020. Residents are encouraged to reach out to their local city or town clerk’s office for permanent vehicle registration options.
- Walking disability placards or license plates may be issued 6-month extensions without meeting the in-person application and medical certification requirements.
Drop box services are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. at the following locations: Concord, Dover, Manchester, Newport, Twin Mountain, Salem, Nashua, and Keene.
For all other transactions, please call DMV customer service at 227-4000 to determine the availability of services.
Customers should take advantage of the DMV’s online services, including online driver license renewal for those who are eligible, ID renewals, and online ticket pay at www.nh.gov/dmv.