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Has the Town Called You Lately?

by Dave Atkins

I've heard from some people that the town regularly uses mass-phone messages to alert residents to things like school closing, voter registration, etc. Because we do not have a "land-line" we are not in the phonebook and so we probably did not get automatically added to this list. Is there a way to register our cell phone numbers with the town so we can receive these notifications? Texting would be even better if that's an option.

Submitted by Dave Atkins on January 7, 2009 - 8:02am
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Comments

adding phone number

Submitted by tina b on January 7, 2009 - 10:06am.

i think you can add phone numbers here: http://www.westwoodpd.org/index.cfm?pid=10300

Schools send phone messages based on school info

Submitted by MaryMasi-Phelps on January 7, 2009 - 3:24pm.

The School Department used to use a system called Connect-Ed (sp?) that allows mass-phone notices to be distributed based on school enrollment contact information - so families can receive school-specific messages based on where their children attend. I'm not sure if this is still what is used or if there are provisions for non-school families to be included - you might contact the school department operations dept to inquire.

Mary Masi-Phelps

Phone numbers for the connect-cty

Submitted by Leo Hoban on January 7, 2009 - 3:26pm.

Hi,

The link off the page kindly pointed out by tina b allows you to add a primary, two secondary numbers, and two email addresses. We can also send both emails and SMS messages.

You can also remove yourself from getting calls from that same linked page. We've tried to be careful about not sending out too many messages so people don't mind hearing from us.

The most recent message send out was about the fireworks being postponed, we also send out messages to all the registered voters in town who we had phone numbers for telling them where there polling place was in the state elections.

Leo Hoban
Westwood PD

Town wide telphone messages

Submitted by Dottie Powers on January 7, 2009 - 10:44pm.

Hi Dave,
I work together with Lt.Leo Hoban in sending out messages to all residents who have a listed telephone number. This has been a wonderful tool to inform residents of important events taking place in Town and has been positively received.
Our list is a different list from the school department. We obtain our information from the Annual Town Census and only call homes with published telephone numbers.
Our calls inform people about Election,Town Meeting, Dog licensing and any other important issues pertaining to town hall services that the public should be aware of.
If you have any trouble adding your contact information to the link, please feel free to call me at 781 326-3964 or email me at dpowers@townhall.westwood.ma.us and I can make sure that you are added.

Dottie Powers
Town Clerk

thanks for info on phone lists

Submitted by Dave Atkins on January 8, 2009 - 9:57am.

Thanks for everyone's quick reply on this. Here is some more info I received from Donna McClellan, our town's Manager of Information Systems, about the school's system:

Phone numbers are maintained in ConnectEd via a link to our Student Management Software. Only staff and students are included in the ConnectEd calling system. We do not have a way for residents to sign up or opt out of the ConnectEd system. When your children enroll in school – your cell phone numbers as well as email addresses will be added to his/her demographic record. ConnectEd will call the designated "primary home" phone number for routine calls such as a delayed school or no school announcement. Absences at the Middle School and High School are followed up each day by a ConnectEd Phone message as well as an email to the "primary email address". Emergency announcements which are very rare and will include middle of the day school closing or any other emergency condition will go out to every phone number provided including emergency contacts.

Another option to sign up

Submitted by Guest101 on January 11, 2009 - 8:53am.

Another option to sign up for school cancel notice or delay notice from Channel 25 via email or text message.