The Clerks' Corner
Hello All ~ The temperature is warming; flowers blooming; birds singing ~ Happy Spring! March has certainly been crazy busy for the Town Clerk’s Office. During the month of March, we processed thousands of census forms and dog licenses, held a joint Rabies Clinic with the Town of Seekonk and processed 1,770 vote-by-mail/absentee ballots along with certifying numerous birth/marriage/death records.
As you know, in March we also are preparing for the April 2nd Annual Town Election, working on the Town Clerk’s portion of the 2023 Annual Report and completing the Town Clerk’s fiscal year 2025 budgets.
ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION
Thank you, Rehoboth Reporter, for extending the deadline to submit my article so we can include the results of the April 2, 2024 “unofficial” Annual Town Election results. Above please find the “unofficial” results for the April 2, 2024 Annual Town Election. Thank you, Rehoboth voters, for voting and congratulations to all candidates who participated in Rehoboth’s 2024 Annual Town Election.
ELECTED AND APPOINTED TOWN OFFICIALS
A reminder to our elected and appointed town officials; please be aware that no action can be taken by you in your position until you have taken the Oath of Office. Also, should you ever have reason to resign from your position; your signed notice of resignation should be directed to the Town Clerk, as per MGL c41, s109. Thank you!
2024 DOG LICENSES ARE NOW PAST DUE
2024 Dog licenses were due by April 1, 2024. You may purchase your dog’s license through Rehoboth’s online permitting website at https://www.rehobothma.gov/ – click on Online Permitting under the Citizen Action Center and choose Dog Licenses “Renewal” to start the process. You can also use the direct link to renew your dog’s license @: https://permiteyes.us/rehoboth/publichome.php.
If you prefer, you may drop off your application and payment in the gray drop box at town hall (340 Anawan Street), or by mail (if paying by mail or drop off, checks should be made payable to the “Town of Rehoboth”). The licensing fees are as follows: Male or female dog $20.00; spayed or neutered dogs $10.00. Whether renewing online, via mail, or in person, dog license applications must be accompanied by a current year rabies certificate (with a vaccination date covering the current licensing year) and proof of spay or neuter [if applying for the $10 licensing fee] unless we already have your documentation on file in the Clerk’s Office. If you are unsure, please give our office a call, and we can provide your dog’s licensing information.
Please renew your dog licenses as soon as possible to avoid late fees ~ thank you. To date we registered 1,234 of 2,000+ dogs to be registered. Remember, in addition to being a legal requirement, registering your dog assures the prevention of rabies, and provides easy identification to return lost dogs to their owners because they are now in our database. Thank you to all 1,234 residents for renewing your dog’s licenses so promptly.
Also, another reminder to those residents 70 years of age or older . . . if over 70 years old, as per MGL 140§139(c) and town meeting vote, the Clerk’s Office will waive the $10/$20 license fee; however, you must still apply for the license and show the current year rabies certificate.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL REHOBOTH-SEEKONK RABIES CLINIC THANK YOU ALL!
Thank You Seekonk and Rehoboth Animal Control Officers for arranging the event, Seekonk Fire Department for the use of your beautiful facility and the Seekonk Town Clerk Staff for including Rehoboth in your Annual Rabies Clinic. Thank you also, Dr. Trusdale and staff along with Rob & Bonnie Johnson, Jenn Hose and the Seekonk Save-a-Pet volunteers who processed the rabies licenses. Due to the Saturday Rabies Clinic, Rehoboth was able to register 34 dogs; up 10 dogs from last year. We look forward to participating in the Rehoboth-Seekonk Joint Rabies Clinic again next year mid-March 2025.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Rehoboth voters are advised that the date for the Annual Town Meeting has been scheduled by the Board of Selectmen for Tuesday, June 4th, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Reminder, last year Town Meeting voted to move the May Town Meeting date to June; first Tuesday in June (June 4, 2024). The meeting will be held at the Francis Farm Community Complex – Museum Building – 27 Francis Farm Road. Town Meeting Warrants, after being approved and sent to the printer by the Board of Selectmen’s Office, should arrive in your mailbox, towards the end of May. Last day to register to vote, in order to participate in the Annual Town Meeting, will be Saturday, May 25, 2024 from 8:00AM-5:00PM in the Town Clerk’s Office, 340 Anawan Street. Prospective voters are reminded that they may also register to vote online at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com, or by calling the Town Clerk’s Office to request a Mail-In voter registration form, or download a form @ http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf
ANNUAL TOWN CENSUS FORMS ARE NOW PAST DUE
Our Annual Town Census Forms for 2024 were mailed to all households in Rehoboth during the first week of January. As of March 31st, we have a total of 1,152 households that still need to return their forms: Precinct 1 = 282 households in Precinct 2 = 317 households, 260 households in Precinct 3 and 293 households in Precinct 4. If you haven’t returned your 2024 census form, please send it to the Town Clerk’s office as soon as possible. A friendly reminder, failure to return the completed census form may result in voters being placed on an inactive voting list and as per State requirements, after four years of inactivity you will be removed from the voting list.
I would personally like to thank the 4,706 households (148 more than last year) that have already returned their census forms or responded to our Registrar’s phone calls. Our Registrars have completed their calls to the residents reminding them to return their census forms. Thank you, Registrars Jennifer Moitoso, Helene Vitale and Kathy Conti, along with Kerrie Perkins, Jennifer Hose and several election workers for your exceptional work with the 2024 Census process.
In closing, every April I am reminded how fortunate I am to be your Town Clerk. I would like to thank the voters of Rehoboth for the opportunity to serve as your Town Clerk for eleven wonderful years. I truly love my job and thank all the residents of Rehoboth for making each and every day so very special.
During the month of April, Kerrie, Jenn and I hope you have a wonderful Patriot’s Day, had/have a most enjoyable Easter, Passover, Earth Day, and Arbor Day. Thank you all for taking the time to read my monthly updates and thank you also, Rehoboth Reporter, for faithfully publishing my article every month. We wish you all a most enjoyable April. As another friendly reminder, taxes are due Wednesday, May 1st, annual Excise Taxes were due April 3, 2024, yearly dog licenses were due April 1, 2024, and Annual Census forms were due January 31, 2024. I look forward to chatting with you again in May and hopefully seeing you at our upcoming Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, June 4th. We hope you all enjoy the beautiful spring weather.
Thank you,
Laura
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