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. Under the 2024 charter every department sits under the Town Administrator, who appoints the department heads and files each appointment with the Select Board.
Two things residents expect to find here are not town departments at all. Fire protection and the public water supply belong to the Wareham Fire District and the Onset Fire District, which are separate governments with their own elected committees. The town does run the sewer system, and it elects a Board of Sewer Commissioners to oversee it.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most. For the full list, hours and staff, visit wareham.gov. Memorial Town Hall is at 54 Marion Road and the main line is 508-291-3100.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licences, vital records, the town census and elections. Town Clerk Lisa J. Johnson. 508-291-3140, clerk@wareham.gov. |
|---|---|
| Municipal Maintenance | Streets, plowing, town buildings, cemeteries, parks and trees. Director of Municipal Maintenance Dave Menard. 508-295-5300. |
| Health Department | Inspections, the public health nurse, and health complaints. Director of Public Health Patrick MacDonald. 508-291-3100, extension 3197. |
| Police Department | Public safety, dispatch for the whole town, and non-emergency response, from 2515 Cranberry Highway. Chief of Police Walter W. Correia, Jr. Dispatch 508-295-1212, administration 508-295-1473. |
| Wareham Fire Department | Fire suppression, prevention and response from 273 Main Street. It is run by the Wareham Fire District, not by the town. 508-295-2973. |
| EMS and Ambulance | The town’s emergency medical service, dispatched from the police station. EMS Director Bradford Allen. 508-295-6725. |
| Natural Resources and Harbormaster | Shellfish, moorings, waterways and the beaches. R. Garry Buckminster holds all three titles here: Harbormaster, Director of Natural Resources and Shellfish Constable. 508-291-3100, extension 3180. |
| Council on Aging | The senior centre, outreach and programs for older residents. Director Sharon Rice. 508-291-3130. |
| Conservation Commission | Wetlands, rivers and open space, and the permits that protect them. Conservation Agent Christine Santos. 508-291-3100, extension 6505. |
| Planning and Community Development | Subdivisions, site plans, zoning work and community development. Director of Planning Joshua Faherty. 508-291-3100, extension 6500. |
| Inspectional Services | Building, electrical, plumbing and gas permits and inspections. Building Commissioner Paul Turner. 508-291-3100, extension 3190. |
| Assessor’s Department | Property valuations, abatements and the tax rate work. Director of Assessment Jacqui Nichols. 508-291-3160. |
| Treasurer and Collector | Tax bills, water and sewer payments and town payroll. Treasurer and Collector Tracy Donovan-Lynch. 508-291-3150. |
| Sewer Department | The town sewer system, overseen by an elected Board of Sewer Commissioners. Director Scott Kraihanzel. 508-295-6144. |
| Trash and Recycling | Curbside collection, the transfer station and recycling. Trash Services 508-295-5300, Recycling 508-291-6520. |
| Veterans’ Services | Benefits, claims and services for Wareham veterans and their families. Veterans’ Services Officer Vinnie Fountaine. 508-291-3100, extension 3135. |
| Emergency Management | Storm and emergency preparedness and the town’s ALERT Wareham notification system. Emergency Management Director Calib LaRue. 508-291-3100, extension 6561. |
| Animal Control | Injured, stray and nuisance animals, licensing and rabies clinics. Animal Control Officer Kelly Jarabek. 508-291-3100, extension 3183. |
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.