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. Those departments report up through the Town Administrator’s office.
Westport works out of two buildings on Main Road. Town Hall at 816 Main Road holds the Select Board, the Town Clerk, the Assessors, the Treasurer and Collector and the Accountant. The Town Hall Annex at 856 Main Road holds Health, Building, Conservation, Planning, Recreation, Veterans’ Services and the community television studio. The town publishes the full list, with addresses and phone numbers, in its own Contacts Directory.
Department Directory
| Town Administrator | Runs the town day to day and builds the budget. Town Administrator Chris Vitale. Town Hall, 816 Main Road. (508) 636-1004. |
|---|---|
| Town Clerk | Records, licences, vital records, the annual town census and elections. Town Clerk Kristin Stinson. Town Hall, 816 Main Road. (508) 636-1000. |
| Police | Public safety and non-emergency response. Chief of Police Christopher A. Dunn. 56 Hix Bridge Road. (508) 636-1122. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, prevention and emergency medical response from two stations, 54 Hix Bridge Road and 85 Briggs Road. Fire Chief Daniel K. Baldwin. (508) 636-1110. |
| Emergency Management | Storm and emergency coordination, with a recorded information line updated during events. EMA Director Daniel K. Baldwin. (774) 264-5155. |
| Health | Inspections, septic and well permits, clinics and public health rules. Director of Public Health Matthew J. Armendo. Annex, 856 Main Road. (508) 636-1015. |
| Highway | Roads, drainage and snow and ice operations. Highway Surveyor Christopher Gonsalves, an elected office. 820 Main Road. (508) 636-1020. |
| Council on Aging | The senior center, outreach, Medicare counselling and a supportive day programme. Director of Senior Services Beverly Bisch. 75 Reed Road. (508) 636-1026. |
| Westport Free Public Library | Books, programmes, museum passes and a card that works across the SAILS network. Acting Director Bonnie Strebel. 408 Old County Road. (508) 636-1100. |
| Recreation | Programmes, fields and playgrounds, with registration online. Recreation Director Dana Stewart. Annex, 856 Main Road. (774) 264-5181. |
| Transfer Station | Trash, recycling and the sticker every household needs, renewed each July 1. Foreman Colin Haslam. 72 Hix Bridge Road. (508) 636-9153. |
| Conservation | Wetlands, the coastline and orders of conditions. Conservation Agent Christopher J. Capone. Annex, 856 Main Road. (508) 636-1019. |
| Planning | Subdivisions, site plans and the town’s long range plans. Town Planner Michael Burris. Annex, 856 Main Road. (508) 636-1037. |
| Harbormaster | Moorings, shellfish, waterways and beaches. Director of Marine Services Bill Chace. 2061 Main Road, Westport Point. (508) 636-1105. |
| Veterans’ Services | State and federal benefits, and help filing for them. Veterans Service Officer Carol Freitas. Annex, 856 Main Road. (508) 636-1028. |
| Assessors | Property values, abatements and exemptions. Principal Assessor Theodora Gabriel. Town Hall, 816 Main Road. (508) 636-1012. |
| Building | Building, plumbing, gas and wiring permits and inspections. Building Commissioner Ralph Souza. Annex, 856 Main Road. (508) 636-1035. |
| Tax Collector | Real estate, personal property and excise bills. Tax Collector Susan Brayton. Town Hall, 816 Main Road. (508) 636-1010. |
| Treasurer | Town cash, payroll and employee benefits. Town Treasurer Susan Brayton. Town Hall, 816 Main Road. (508) 636-1007. |
| Town Accountant | Warrants, audits and the town’s books. Town Accountant Nicole Pearsall. Town Hall, 816 Main Road. (508) 636-1040. |
| Community Television | Three channels: government meetings, school events and community programmes, all running 24 hours a day. Director John Rezendes. Annex, 856 Main Road. (508) 636-1038. |
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.