Town Government
Ware 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. Every one of these department heads was appointed by the Town Manager under Article 4 of the town charter, subject to the Selectboard’s review, which is why none of their names appears on a ballot and why the Town Manager is the person the Selectboard holds responsible for all of them.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most, with the head the town names on its own department pages. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit the town’s Departments page. Town Hall is at 126 Main Street, and most Town Hall offices share the main line, 413-967-9648, with their own extensions.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, dog licensing, and elections. Town Clerk Nancy J. Talbot. 413-967-9648 x103. |
|---|---|
| Public Works | Streets, water, sewer, snow plowing and the wastewater plant, from the DPW office at 4 1/2 Church Street. Highway Supervisor Fred Venne; Water and Sewer Operations Manager John Stanton. 413-967-9620. |
| Health | Inspections, code enforcement, and public health complaints. Director of Public Health Andrea Crete. 413-967-9615. |
| Police | Public safety and non-emergency response, 24 hours a day from 22 North Street. Chief of Police Shawn Crevier. 413-967-3571. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, prevention, and emergency response from 200 West Street. Fire Chief Jim Martinez, Deputy Chief Jeremy Boulrice. 413-967-5901. |
| Parks & Recreation | Grenville Park, the town’s fields, and pavilion bookings. Parks Manager John Piechota. |
| Council on Aging | The senior center, outreach, and programs for older residents. Executive Director John Zienowicz. 413-967-9648 x501. |
| Building & Inspection | Building permits, inspections, and zoning enforcement. Building Commissioner and Zoning Enforcement Officer Anna S. Marques. 413-967-9648 x114. |
| Planning & Community Development | Planning, zoning, and economic development, grouped under one director since the 2014 charter amendment. Director Paralee Smith. 413-967-9648 x118. |
| Municipal Finance | Accounting, payroll, and the town’s financial reporting. Treasurer/Collector Ashley Walker. 413-967-9648 x121. |
| Tax Collector | Tax bills and payments. 413-967-9602. |
| Assessors | Property valuation, abatements, and exemptions. Principal Assessor Kate Winkler. 413-967-9648 x179. |
| Veteran’s Agent | Benefits, claims, and services for Ware veterans and their families. Veteran’s Agent Mark A. Avis. 413-967-9648 x115. |
| Conservation | Wetlands protection and the state Wetlands Protection Act, agent by appointment. Conservation Agent John M. Prenosil. 413-404-3975. |
Emergencies are 911. The police non-emergency line is 413-967-3571, and the fire business line is 413-967-5901. Animal control is a shared regional officer serving Palmer, Monson and Ware; complaints go through 413-967-3571.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.