March 28, 2024

From the Town Clerk...

Posted

Hello All ~ Happy New Year ~ I wish you a safe, healthy, happy, peaceful, and prosperous new year. I also hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. By now you should have received your 2016 Annual Census forms and dog tag application form. If you do not receive your 2016 census during the first week of January, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office (508) 252-6502 x-3110 or 3109. Like last year, the census mailing also includes a town calendar and town services directory. This is the third year the Clerk’s Department has provided a calendar in the census mailer. Over the past few years we have received many compliments on how helpful the calendar was during the year. Continuing my goal of making town government more accessible to the residents, it is my hope that the calendar provides you with key information right at your fingertips. You will note, the calendar signals residents of upcoming due dates such as real estate tax payments, census forms, and dog licenses, which are highlighted in green; upcoming election and town meeting dates, which are highlighted in blue, and town department holidays that are bolded in red (whole day) and purple (half day). On the reverse side of the calendar, you will also find a directory of the Town of Rehoboth’s departments, employees, and phone numbers. Also included on the directory side you will find information and websites, which residents may find useful such as transfer station hours, burning permit information, school phone numbers, etc. We hope you find the 2016 calendar addition to your census mailing a beneficial and time saving tool ~ Happy New Year and thank you for sending your completed census forms back to us as soon as possible!

THANK YOU – REHOBOTH GARDEN CLUB

We are truly blessed in Rehoboth with many wonderful and generous individuals! I would personally like to thank the Rehoboth Garden Club for the beautiful holiday wreaths they donate around town. I noticed the gorgeous wreaths at Town Hall, the COA, and the gazebo on Redway Plain – thank you for your generosity – you truly made our holidays special! Speaking of making our holidays special, I would also like to thank Cheryl Gouveia, our Town Tax Collector and Treasurer, for decorating town hall with candles, lights, and holiday decorations. Cheryl has a great talent for decorating and her enthusiasm and generosity made our holidays even more festive and special ~ thank you Cheryl and the Rehoboth Garden Club for all you do for us all in Rehoboth.

NEW TOWN WEBSITE
@ www.town.rehoboth.ma.us

Check it out . . . our town website has been updated and I think it looks pretty awesome. If you missed the quick tutorial I provided at the December 14th Selectmen’s meeting and are having difficulty navigating the new website, please give me a call (Laura – 508-252-6502 x-3110) and I will walk you through the key features. We tried to create a website that is user friendly and a great resource for all residents. Hopefully you will check out the site, bookmark it, and come back to visit often. Town Department Heads are committed to keeping the information current and helpful for all. Any suggestions are also welcomed . . . we want the town website to be your GO TO place for up-to-date town-wide information.

ANNUAL TOWN CENSUS

As mentioned in last month’s article, the Board of Registrars is required to conduct an annual street listing (Census) of residents as of the first of January each year. In addition to the name, address, date of birth, occupation, veteran status, and number of dogs, the form includes a section for school information required by the school department. Results of the census are used to prove residency for a variety of reasons. The data is used for state college entrance applications, veterans’ benefits, amending and establishing birth records, locating missing persons, establishing precinct lines, predicting future school enrollment, state and federal funding to the town, police and fire protection, updating the voting list, and other legal purposes.

Please review the pre-printed Census Form, make corrections, and return it no later than January 31st. You may choose to return the Census Form via the USPS, utilize Census drop off boxes at Town Hall, Blanding Library, Bristol County Savings Bank, or the Senior Center. Additionally, you can scan in your signed and completed census forms and email them to either LSchwall@town.rehoboth.ma.us or LShaker@town.rehoboth.ma.us.

This year’s census mailer has three inserts in addition to the 2016 Calendar and household census forms. The first insert is the Annual Dog Licensing form (white paper – black print). Please note the 3rd Annual Rehoboth-Seekonk Rabies Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, March 12th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 (Noon). For more information please see the bottom of the Dog Licensing Form or under the Dog Licenses and Rabies Clinic sections below. The second insert is printed on yellow paper with black print. This document provides important information for the upcoming voting year. We have four elections and two town meetings scheduled, so please make sure you are registered to vote, know where (what Precinct) you vote in, and when to vote. Finally, the third insert is white page with full color print. This document directs you to our new town website, where you can “subscribe” to news and alerts regarding the Town of Rehoboth. Please follow the directions and enroll in the “Urgent Alerts” e-mail notification from our town website. Please register for Urgent Alerts so you know what is going on in town. Any questions; please call or e-mail us.

New residents may receive blank forms, which they are asked to complete and return. If you do not receive a Census Form, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office 508-252-6502 X-3110 (Laura) or 3109 (Lynn). Blank Census forms are also available on the town website @
http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/census-information.

Failure to return the completed form may result in voters being placed on an inactive voting list or being removed from the voting list.

Residents are requested to please send in their census forms as quickly as possible regardless of whether or not they license their dogs at this time.

2016 DOG LICENSES

Speaking of dog licenses, the 2016 Dog Licenses are now available and may be purchased at the Town Clerk’s Office. Again in 2016, residents will also be able to renew their dog licenses online with a Debit/Credit Card or Electronic Check (ACH/EFT).

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 the office a call and we can tell you how up-to-date our information is. Dog owners should note that the license(s) will not be returned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is included (the current postage is 71¢ for one dog tag, 93¢ for two dog tags and 1.15¢ for three dog).

2016 – 3rd Annual Rabies Clinic

Keep them safe . . . inoculate!
The 3rd Annual Rehoboth-Seekonk $12 Dog and Cat Rabies Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, March 12, 2016 - 9:00 AM ~ 12:00 Noon @ Seekonk Public Works Department Garage (On the Corner of Route 44 & Lake Street). The Rehoboth & Seekonk Town Clerks will be there to renew your 2016 Dog Licenses. For more details, please call 508-252-6502 X-3110 or 3109.

THE ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION

The Annual Town Election for the Town of Rehoboth will be held on Monday, April 4, 2016 with the polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. – ALL THREE PRECINCTS WILL BE OPEN. Precinct I is the Town Office Building at 148 Peck Street, Precinct II is the Gladys L. Hurrell Senior Center at 55 Bay State Road, and Precinct III is the South Fire Station at 102 Pleasant Street.

Nomination papers are now available for any registered voter in Rehoboth wishing to run for election on the Town ballot and who chooses not to seek a nomination through their registered party’s caucus process. Nomination papers may be picked up by prospective candidates at the Town Clerk’s office and must be returned, signed by a minimum of 38 registered voters, to the Board of Registrars at the Town Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on, or before, Tuesday, February 16th.

Positions to be elected on the ballot for 2016 are Moderator (one for 1 year), Selectmen (one for 3 years), Treasurer (one for three years), Assessor (one for 3 years), School Committee (one for 3 years), Planning Board (one for 5 years and one for 3 years), Park Commission (one for 5 years), Housing Authority (one for 5 years and one for 3 years), Constable (three for 3 years), and Water Commissioner (two for 3 years and two for 1 year).

The final voter registration date to be eligible to vote in the Annual Town Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Clerk’s Office.

Prospective voters are reminded that they may also register to vote by calling the Town Clerk’s Office to request a Mail-In voter registration form, or register online @ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/.

ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS

Applications for absentee ballots are available as of January 4th and may be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office. Absentee ballots are obtained by written request only and must have the voter’s original signature. The deadline for filing absentee applications is Friday, April 1st at 5:00 p.m. Absentee ballot request forms are also available online @ http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee_ballot.pdf for an individual request or http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee_ballot_fam.pdf for a family member.

Any questions regarding voter eligibility or requests for mail-in voter registration forms may be directed to the Town Clerk’s Office.

ELECTION WORKER TRAINING

I am pleased to announce that Ms. Bridget Simmons Murphy, Election Specialist, Secretary of State – Elections Bureau will be coming down from Boston to bring us up to speed on the new election laws and what our election day responsibilities will be during this busy Presidential Election year. We are teaming up with the Seekonk election workers and meeting at their facility rather than the Rehoboth Town Hall due to limited meeting space. If you were considering becoming an election worker, this is the time for you to attend the training and see if you would like to join our team. All you will need to do is fill out a talent bank form and submit it to the Town Clerk’s Office. Election Day working hours usually run from 6:30 a.m. – 8:30/9:00 p.m. Election workers receive breakfast and dinner on the town. Schwall baked goods are always served too. Talent Bank Forms are available on the town website @
http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/sites/rehobothma/files/uploads/talent_bank_form.pdf.
Being an election worker is a great way to give back to the community and we are fortunate to have a wonderful group of individuals to work with.

BUSINESS CERTIFICATES

Business owners whose business certificate will expire during January through June of 2016 should have received a reminder for renewal. The renewal fee is $50.00 (certificate renewal is good for four years) and checks should be made payable to: The Town of Rehoboth. If you prefer to renew online, you may use the debit/credit card/ ACH/EFT payment method on the town website. However, your signature must be notarized on the business certificate renewal form then scanned and e-mailed to the town clerk’s office. Free notary services are available at the town clerk’s office during regular office hours. Debit/Credit Card or Electronic Check (ACH/EFT) transactions may also be processed through the town clerk’s office, in addition to online.


Questions or suggestions regarding any of the above topics may be directed to the Town Clerk’s Office, Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 508-252-6502, X3109 (Lynn) or X3110 (Laura).

Lynn and I wish all of our town residents a happy, peaceful, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Sincerely
Laura & Lynn

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