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. In Russell the departments answer to the elected Board of Selectmen, and one of them, the Light Department, answers to a commission the voters elect directly.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit townofrussell.us. Town Hall is at 65 Main Street and its main number is 413-862-3265; office hours vary by department.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, and elections. Town Clerk Kim Morgan, 65 Main Street. 413-862-6207. Open Tuesday 5:30 to 7:30 in the evening and Friday 3:30 to 5:30. |
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| Highway Department | Roads, snow plowing, and road repair, from 162 Main Street. Highway Foreman John Hoppe. 413-862-6222. |
| Police Department | Public safety and non-emergency response, from 155 Highland Avenue. Chief Kevin Hennessey. Station 413-862-6209; dispatch is handled by Northampton Control at 413-586-1508. |
| Fire Department | Fire suppression, prevention, and rescue, from 162 Main Street. Chief Derek Daudelin. 413-862-6220. The department meets at 6 in the evening on the first and third Mondays. |
| Russell Municipal Light Department | The town’s own electric utility, founded in 1920, at 200 Main Street. Manager Alan Robinson. 413-862-4400; outages 413-418-9784. |
| Water Department | Drinking water and billing, from 200 Main Street. Chief Operator Roger Bush Jr. 413-862-3104. |
| Sewer Department | Sewer service and billing, from 200 Main Street. Chief Operator Roger Bush Jr. 413-862-6215; after hours 413-875-5159. |
| Russell Public Library | Books, programs, computers, and a card that works at libraries across Massachusetts, at 162 Main Street. Director Jennifer Waldorf. 413-862-6221. |
| Board of Assessors | Property values, abatements, and exemptions, at 65 Main Street. Principal Assessor Tom Ray. 413-862-6203. |
| Tax Collector | Tax, electric, sewer and water bills, plus dump permits and trash tags. Tax Collector Wendy M. Brunet. 413-862-6201. Open Tuesday 11 to 6 and Friday 11 to 3. |
| Town Treasurer | Payroll, town funds, investments, and debt, at 65 Main Street. Treasurer Wendy M. Brunet. 413-862-6201. |
| Town Accountant | Bills, warrants, receipts, payroll, and the town ledgers. Town Accountant Nancy Boersig. 413-862-6200. |
| Health Inspector | Septic and Title V inspections and health complaints. Health Agent Crystal Dugay. 413-454-5150. |
| Transfer Station | Trash, recycling, mattresses and textiles, on Frog Hollow Road. 413-862-4747. Open Wednesday 10 to 4 and 6 to 8, and Saturday 8 to 4. |
| Animal Control | Animal complaints and stray reports. Animal Control Officer Nate Sperry. 413-221-0139. |
| Emergency Management | Town emergency planning and the CodeRed alert system. Michael Morrissey. 413-977-6540. |
| Veterans’ Services | Russell is served by the Western Hampden District office at 954 Main Street, Agawam. Veterans’ Director Christopher F. Lanski. 413-726-9782. |
| Cemetery Department | The Russell Cemetery office at 200 Main Street. 413-862-3104. |
The Council on Aging coordinator is Carrie Florek, reachable at 413-862-6217, and the Building Inspector is Jason Forgue at 413-862-6208. In an emergency, call 911.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.