Town Government
Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department, not an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. Almost every one of these department heads was appointed by the Town Manager under sections 11 and 12 of the town charter, which is why none of their names appears on a ballot and why the Town Manager is the person the Select Board holds responsible for all of them.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most, with the head the town names on its own staff directory. For the full list, hours and staff, visit the town’s Departments page or its staff directory. Town Hall is at 25 Green Street, open Monday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to noon.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licences, vital records, the town census and elections. Town Clerk Andrea Pappalimberis. 978-356-6677. |
|---|---|
| Department of Public Works | Streets, water, snow, solid waste and recycling. Director Rick Clarke. 978-356-6612. |
| Public Health Department | Inspections, septic and housing, the public health nurse and community health resources. Director Colleen E. Fermon. 978-356-6606. |
| Police Department | Public safety and non-emergency response, at 15 Elm Street. Chief Paul Nikas. 978-356-4343. |
| Fire Department | Fire suppression, prevention and emergency medical response, at 55 Central Street. Chief Paul Parisi. 978-356-4321. |
| Ipswich Electric Light Department | The town’s own electric utility, at 272 High Street, governed by the Select Board sitting as Electric Light Commissioners. Business Manager Charles Kanouff. 978-356-6635. |
| Recreation Department | Parks, fields, youth programs and Pavilion Beach. Director Kerrie Bates. 978-356-6644. |
| Council on Aging | Outreach, transportation and programs for older residents. Director Cameron White. 978-356-6650. |
| Building Department | Building permits, inspections and the wiring, gas and plumbing inspectors. Building Commissioner James Bone. 978-356-6605. |
| Planning and Development | Planning, zoning, housing programs and economic development. Director of Planning and Development Alan Manoian. 978-356-6607. |
| Conservation Department | Wetlands, the town’s own protection bylaw and the Conservation Commission’s caseload. Conservation Agent Sarah Dawson. 978-356-6661. |
| Finance Department | Budget, accounting and the town’s financial reporting. Town Accountant Terri White. 978-356-6601. |
| Treasurer and Collector | Tax bills, payments and the town’s cash. Treasurer and Collector Kevin Merz. 978-356-6610. |
| Assessor’s Office | Property valuation, abatements and exemptions. Chief Assessor Emily Behn. 978-356-6603. |
| Water Department | Drinking water, the treatment plant and metering, at 272 High Street. Water and Wastewater Director Vicki Halmen. 978-356-6635. |
| Shellfish Department | The flats, permits and the town’s shellfish beds. Deputy Shellfish Constable Amber Salvage. 978-356-6671. |
| Open Space Program | The land the town has protected since 1994, its trails and its public easements. Open Space Steward Sarah Hardwick. 978-356-6607. |
| Emergency Management | Preparedness, the town’s emergency plan and the volunteer corps. Director Jon Hubbard. |
Emergencies are 911. Ipswich publishes separate non-emergency lines: the Police Department at 978-356-4343 and the Fire Department at 978-356-4321. The snow emergency line is 978-412-8705.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.