Furloughed Workers To Get Extension On Water, Sewer Bills: Mayor

NEWTON, MA — Mayor Ruthanne Fuller announced the City is offering furloughed Federal workers who live in Newton an extension on paying their water and sewer bills.

President Donald Trump made an announcement Friday saying he will sign a bill that will reopen the government until Feb. 15. The partial shutdown stretched into a second month and has gone down as the longest in history affecting Federal employees all across the country, including those who live in Newton.

"The Federal Government is temporarily re-opened, but it still may be days before furloughed employees receive a paycheck and it is unclear what will happen if a deal is not reached at the end of three weeks," reads a statement from the mayor's office.

State law prevents municipalities from deferring property tax payments, but furloughed Federal employees who live in Newton can contact the Department of Public Works (Loretta Morrell at 617-796-1040) discuss payment options.

Trump's announcement comes on the same day that delays were reported at some of the busiest's airports in the northeast United States. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly halted flights into New York City's LaGuardia Airport Friday, which affected air travel across the country. At Boston Logan more than 50 inbound flights were affected.

There are three Newton Food Pantries for anyone who is feeling the squeeze:

• Arabic Baptist Food Pantry, 187 Church St.
• Centre St. Food Pantry, 11 Homer St.
• Newton Food Pantry, 1000 Commonwealth Ave.

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Photo by Jenna Fisher / Patch. She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).