City Hall reopening to the public with restrictions Aug. 5

WEST HAVEN, July 28, 2020 — In accordance with state and local guidelines, City Hall is reopening to the public with restrictions Aug. 5, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and city Health Director Maureen B. Lillis announced.

Rossi said the phased reopening of City Hall will allow staff to service residents inside the building for the first time since March 16, when City Hall was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For phase one of the reopening plan, City Hall will open for limited business Monday through Thursday by appointment only and restricted to the first floor, Rossi said.

Residents can make an appointment for the Building Department, assessor’s office, tax office and city clerk’s office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by contacting the department at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/directory.aspx. Appointments are limited.

To enter City Hall, visitors must use the west entrance on the Savin Avenue side of the building. Visitors must wear face masks, show identification and pass a temperature check before entering, Lillis said.

Visitors must sign in with staff, noting the time and location of the appointment, and sign out when business is done. They must also use the hand sanitizer station before going to the appointment, Lillis said.

Visitors must maintain social distancing, including staying 6 feet away from others, and stand behind the protective barrier, Lillis said.

Although City Hall will partially reopen, the Chamber of Commerce and Department of Motor Vehicles Express offices will remain closed until further notice, city officials said.

Residents are encouraged to continue using online payments and the drop box at the Main Street entrance of City Hall.

Lillis said City Hall will remain closed on Friday until further notice to allow a deeper cleaning of the building.

City employees are working extended hours Monday through Thursday, Rossi said. Employees are available by phone and email at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/directory.aspx.

West Haven reopening COVID-19 testing site on Green

Health Department reopening COVID-19 testing site on West Haven Green

WEST HAVEN, July 28, 2020 — The Health Department is reopening its COVID-19 testing site on the Green for another two weeks, starting Aug. 5, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Health Director Maureen B. Lillis announced.

The walk-up site, held on the Main Street side of the Green, will operate from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 5-6 and Aug. 12-13 and from 2-8 p.m. Aug. 7 and Aug. 14.

All medical insurance policies will be accepted, but those without insurance will not be turned away, Lillis said.

Swab tests will be given to people with symptoms and without and done by Murphy Medical Associates of Greenwich. No blood tests for antibodies will be offered.

Tests will be sent to a third-party lab for processing, with the results expected as early as 24 hours, Lillis said.

Little Picassos

WEST HAVEN, July 23, 2020 — City campers participate in a painting activity provided by Picasso Parties of 944 Ocean Ave.The recent event is the first of three offered at the Department of Parks and Recreation’s playground camps this summer. (City Photo/Diane Dietman)

Beach parking reminders issued

WEST HAVEN, July 23, 2020 — Motorists are once again reminded about the city’s beach parking policy.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions limiting the capacity of beach lots, parking is for West Haven residents only until further notice.

The city’s new beach stickers are only valid if affixed to the inside lower left corner of the vehicle’s windshield. Stickers are required at all times, regardless if parking lots are staffed, said Mark E. Paine Jr., the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Violators are subject to a $100 fine, Paine said.

All parking meters are out of service until further notice.

According to Paine, parking lot constables may not accept parking fees or check driver’s licenses or motor vehicle registrations.

West Haven residents who own their vehicles and are current on their motor vehicle taxes should have received the 2020-22 beach stickers in the mail with their tax bills. Those who lease their vehicles should have also received the stickers in a separate mailing.

Delinquent taxpayers are not eligible for the free stickers, which expire June 30, 2022, until their motor vehicle taxes are paid, city officials said.

Beach stickers are for new, leased and military-exempt vehicles, including motorcycles. A “new” vehicle means it was registered in West Haven after Oct. 1, 2019. Commercial vehicles are excluded.

Each sticker includes the vehicle’s license plate number printed on it and is nontransferable.

Anyone who did not receive a beach sticker or has recently purchased a new vehicle registered in West Haven can contact the tax office at 203-937-3525 or taxoffice@westhaven-ct.gov.

For beach sticker information, call the tax office at 203-937-3525.

The West Haven tax office’s new window service features large tents and a plywood staging area, along with a plywood ramp and walkway, on the Campbell Avenue side of City Hall to give taxpayers access to three windows to pay their taxes. The next-door assessor’s office has also been outfitted with a window as part of a smaller staging area and tent to allow staff to assist residents with services. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven offers new window service to pay tax bills

WEST HAVEN, June 23, 2020 — The tax office rolled out a new window service at City Hall on June 23, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Tax Collector Dorothy Chambrelli announced.

The window service allows the tax office to offer in-person payments for the first time since March 16, when City Hall was closed until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic, said Lou Esposito, Rossi’s executive assistant.

Esposito said the city has erected large tents and constructed a plywood staging area, along with a plywood ramp and walkway, on the Campbell Avenue side of City Hall to give taxpayers access to three windows to pay their taxes.

The payment windows are serviced by tax office personnel and equipped with protective plastic glass to shield both employees and taxpayers, Esposito said.

Current taxes can be paid by check, credit card, debit card or money order at the windows or by the drop box — check or money order — at the Main Street entrance of City Hall. No cash is accepted until further notice, city officials said.

Taxpayers who have cash can go to a bank of their choice to obtain a money order or certified check.

Taxpayers can also make a payment at Tax Collector. Sewer bills are on the same page but under a separate heading. Tax payment history can also be viewed and printed.

The fees for credit cards and electronic checks are available at Tax Collector Payments.

Current taxes can also be paid by mail — check or money order, no cash — to the tax office lockbox: City of West Haven, Tax Collector, P.O. Box 150461, Hartford, CT 06115-0461. When paying by lockbox or drop box, the canceled check is the receipt.

The assessor’s office, which is next door to the tax office on the same side of City Hall, has also been outfitted with a window as part of a smaller staging area and tent to allow staff to assist residents with services.

While waiting in both lines, taxpayers must wear face masks and socially distance by staying at least 6 feet apart at all times, Health Director Maureen B. Lillis said.

West Haven tax bills — real estate, personal property, motor vehicle and sewer — have been mailed and are payable in two installments: July and January. Bills $100 or less are payable in full.

Each tax bill, which is sent out once a year, has three parts: a payment coupon for July, payment coupon for January and payment coupon for taxpayers’ records.

Taxes are due July 1. Payments after Aug. 3 are considered delinquent and subject to interest, Chambrelli said.

After Aug. 3, taxes with interest can be paid by mail to the City of West Haven, Tax Collector, P.O. Box 401, West Haven, CT 06516.

Thanks to the city’s COVID-19 relief ordinance, delinquent taxes remaining due and payable from April 1 are subject to a reduced interest rate of 3% per year for 90 days from April 1. New taxes due July 1 will have a 30-day grace period and in the event they are paid late will also qualify for a reduced interest rate for 90 days.