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1. What is considered an animal emergency?
2. Does the Town of Needham have a leash law?
3. I found a baby racoon. Can I keep it?
4. There is a dead bird in my yard, does it need to be tested for the West Nile Virus?
5. Will Animal Control come and remove the dead animal from my yard?
6. What is a feral cat?

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1. What does the Assessor do?
2. What doesn't the Assessor do?
3. What is the tax levy?
4. What is Proposition 2 1/2?
5. How is your assessment determined?
6. How can my taxes increase?

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1. When is a Building Permit required?
2. Who can be issued a building permit?
3. How long will it take to get a building permit?
4. How long are permits valid?
5. Do I need a Plot Plan as part of my building application?

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1. What is the Community Preservation Act and what can be funded?
2. Are there exemptions to paying the surcharge?
3. How do I apply for an exemption?
4. How can someone apply for funds?

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1. What is the Conservation Commission?
2. What is the Wetlands Protection Act?
3. Does Needham have a local Wetlands Protection Bylaw?
4. How do I know if I need a wetlands permit?
5. Can you recommend surveyors and engineers to help with my project?
6. What is a vernal pool?
7. Why are vernal pools important?

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1. How can I serve on a town board or commission?
2. How do I request public records from the Town?
3. Where can I register for parks and recreation programs?
4. How can I dispose of my recyclable materials?
5. Does the Town of Needham provide notary services?

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1. Can a homeowner obtain a street permit?
2. Why do I need a $5000 bond?
3. Why do I need an insurance certificate?
4. What counts as "public property"?
5. What is a Hoisting Engineer (HE) License? Why do I need one?
6. How wide can I make my driveway apron?
7. Can I add a 2nd driveway opening (make a horseshoe driveway)?
8. What is needed in order to make my existing driveway apron smaller so I can add 2nd driveway opening?
9. How close to abutting properties may I install my driveway?
10. How large can I make driveway on private property?
11. Why do I need a street permit for a house addition?
12. Why do I need a street permit for an in-ground swimming pool?
13. Why do I need a street permit if excavating on private property?
14. Do I need a permit to place a storage container onto my private property?
15. Do I need a permit to place a storage container on the street in front of my property?

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1. When is a Building Permit required?
2. Who can be issued a building permit?
3. How long does it take to obtain a building permit?
4. How long are permits good for?
5. Are permit applications on the Towns Website?
6. What do I need to file an application for a building permit?
7. Do I need a Plot Plan as part of my building application?
8. What do I need to obtain a plumbing, gas or wiring permits?
9. When do I need to obtain a Sheet Metal Permit?
10. Do I need the property owner's signature on the building application?
11. How many days notice is needed to plan for inspections?
12. Does the Fire Department review the plans?
13. Do I need separate approval from the Fire Department to complete my building permit?
14. When does the Fire department inspect the project?
15. During the reconstruction of my house, do I need to replace existing smoke detectors in rooms or areas of my house that are not under reconstruction?
16. When is a Wetland Permit required?
17. Is there a list of licensed asbestos removers?
18. In addition to a rodent inspection, what other inspections must be conducted prior to a Demolition Permit being issued?
19. How long is the rodent inspection good for?
20. Why do I need to hire a licensed asbestos inspector?
21. What is a Surety Bond and when do I need one?
22. Is there a fine for not properly disposing of mercury devices?
23. Is the Street Occupancy Permit needed to obtain a Building Permit?
24. Who do I contact at utility companies to cut and cap utilities for a Demolition Permit?
25. If my builder is not familiar with Needham, what requirements are unique to Needham that I should highlight?
26. Are there things that I should be aware of that can help during the building permit application process?
27. Are there any restrictions on working hours?

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1. How do I get property information?
2. How do I get property information
3. Can I have a copy of the Assessor's Map for my property?
4. Can I get a copy of my sewer connection?
5. Can I have a copy of the water service lateral for my property?
6. How do I change my house number?

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1. If I did not physically receive an excise bill from the Town, am I still responsible for late charges?
2. I have received an excise bill on my new car, but I have already paid the excise on my old car. What should I do?
3. How do I pay an auto excise tax?

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1. How many athletic fields are in Needham?
2. Who maintains the athletic fields?
3. Why do participants pay a $5 Field Maintenance fee?
4. What kinds of projects are done with the Field Maintenance fee?
5. What are some of the successes funded by the Field Maintenance Fee?
6. What do I do if I have a maintenance question?
7. Who schedules the athletic fields?
8. Why do I pay a Field Administration Fee?
9. Are there scheduling priorities?
10. If I’m a coach and need additional practice field space, whom should I contact?
11. Why are there more weeds on the fields than in the past?
12. So, if you can’t spray the weeds, what can be done?
13. Should I be concerned about mosquitoes?
14. Are deer ticks a concern in Needham?
15. Are the droppings from Canada Geese a health problem?
16. Why are some fields closed when the rain has stopped and it is sunny out?
17. Why am I asked not to bring my dog to watch a game?
18. Why do some school sites not have trash barrels?
19. Why are the trash cans full some days?

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1. When am I allowed to burn brush outdoors?
2. I was having a medical emergency and called 911 for an ambulance, but the fire department came. Why?
3. But I just wanted to be taken to the hospital emergency room where I can get the care I need. What can firefighters do to for my medical emergency?
4. I called for an ambulance, but a fire truck arrived first. Why wasn’t the ambulance sent before a fire truck, that’s what I asked for?
5. When I called 911, the dispatcher asked me a lot of questions. Why can’t they just send an ambulance?
6. Why did you have to send the fire truck and the ambulance? Wouldn’t it be better to just send the ambulance, they’re the ones providing EMS right?
7. Why does the Fire Department provide ambulance service anyway?
8. So why shouldn’t the town hire a private ambulance service?

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1. I'm on a fixed income. Can I get help with my utility bills?
2. What do I need to submit to the Health Department for a Notification of Demolition?
3. How often are restaurants inspected in town?
4. Should I report my positive home antigen test to Needham Public Health?

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1. How do I find the most recent issue of the library's newsletter?
2. How do I get a library card?
3. How do I set up my own online library card account?
4. How do I reserve a Museum pass? Which passes does the Library own?
5. How do I request a library item?
6. How do I sign up for the Library Newsletter
7. How do I book a Study Room? What are the requirements?
8. How can I get a magazine article if the library doesn’t subscribe to it?
9. How do I find out what the new DVDs are?
10. How do I book the Community Room?
11. How do I check out materials?
12. What are the fines for overdue or missing items?
13. How Do I Donate Books?
14. How do I use the Overdrive Digital Media Catalog for e-readers?
15. Does the Library have Book Clubs? How do I participate?
16. Where can I find magazines and newspapers?
17. How do I get a magazine that I don't see in the magazine section here in Needham? Is there a way for me to get this magazine?
18. How do I get an assistive hearing device?

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1. Do you offer volunteer programs in the summer?
2. What kinds of documents are necessary to complete if I am using my volunteer hours for a school requirement or for the tax work off program?
3. What if I cannot make one of my scheduled shifts?
4. I have been working sporadically over the last four months as a library volunteer. How do I know how many hours I have accumulated?
5. Is there a chance that my volunteer position may become a paid position over time? Volunteer positions remain as volunteer positions for their useful life. Many employees at the Library began as volu

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1. How can I volunteer to help maintain the gardens or memorials?
2. When will events be held to commemorate veterans on Memorial Day? On Veteran’s Day?

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1. When is open enrollment?

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1. What are PFAS and why are they a problem?
2. How does PFAS get into my drinking water?
3. What contains PFAS?
4. What is Part Per Trillion?
5. How can i stay informed?

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1. What is the difference between PCR tests and rapid antigen tests?
2. When should I test for Covid-19?
3. If my antigen test is negative, should I take another test?
4. Should I get a PCR test if I have a positive antigen test?
5. I have heard that with Omicron, there is less virus in the nose and more in the throat. Should I swab my throat and use that for an antigen test?
6. Do I need to provide a PCR test to return to work or school?
7. Do I need to report my home antigen test to Needham Public Health?

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1. How do I get help with my water bill?
2. How do I report a dead animal?
3. When is the RTS open?
4. What can I drop off at the RTS?
5. How do I request a service from Public Works?
6. Do you have trash pick-up?
7. Why is my water bill so high?
8. May I speak with or schedule an appointment with the gas, plumbing, heating, electric, or building inspector?

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1. What is Needham’s Pay-Per-Throw program?
2. Do recyclables or yard waste go in the Pay-Per-Throw bags?
3. Do retailers make a profit on the sale of the Pay-Per-Throw bags?
4. How much do Pay-Per-Throw bags cost?
5. What determines the price of the bags?
6. Can I reuse Pay-Per-Throw bags?
7. How do I dispose of items which will not fit into the Pay-Per –Throw bags?
8. How do I pay for the disposal of a large bulky item?
9. How do I dispose of large volumes of bulky waste such as basement or garage clean-outs?
10. Will I still need to purchase an RTS sticker for my car?
11. Whom should I call if I have additional questions?

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1. How can I get a copy of my birth certificate?
2. Where can I file a marriage license?
3. Where can I get a Passport?
4. How can I register to vote?
5. How can I obtain a Business Certificate?
6. How do I license my dog?
7. Where can I get a death certificate?

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1. What is the Community Preservation Act (CPA)?
2. How often are Real Estate Bills Mailed?
3. What if I do not receive a bill?
4. I just received my Water & Sewer bill and it is way too high. Why?

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1. How long does it take to get a municipal lien?
2. How current is the data?

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1. Can I pay my tax bills by credit or debit card or online?
2. If I pay my property tax bill late, will I be charged any interest penalties?
3. What is the Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge?
4. Do you give verbal tax information?
5. How do I pay a Real Estate bill?
6. How do I dispute my Real Estate taxes if I think the property value is too high?
7. How much do you charge for Municipal Lien Certificates?
8. How long does it take to get a municipal lien cerfiticate (MLC)?

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1. How can I get my water tested for lead?
2. My water is discolored. What should I do?
3. What is Needham's water pressure?
4. What do I do if I have a sewer backup?

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1. What is Needham's water pressure?
2. How can I get my water tested for lead?
3. My water is discolored. What should I do?
4. What do I do if I have a sewer backup?

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1. Sometimes I see "Youth Commission" and sometimes "Youth Services"...can you explain why this is so? "
2. Where are you located --- on Highland Aveneue or Dedham Avenue?
3. Does the Youth Services sponsor those dances for middle school students?
4. I am a homeowner looking for a youth to help me around my house and was told that you offer such a service...is this true?
5. Is it true that I can get a job through the Youth Services (formerly known as the Youth Commission)?
6. Do you offer counseling services and how much do they cost?
7. I cannot afford the fee for your services...are fees ever waived?
8. I am interested in serving on the Board of Directors...how are members appointed?

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1. What is the difference between a special permit and a variance?