From the Town Clerk

Hello All ~ I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. I, personally and professionally, have a lot to be thankful for this year. I have a wonderfully supportive family and group of friends who helped me through the three-year certification process of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), Inc. On Tuesday, November 21st I was granted the IIMC - CMC (Certified Municipal Clerk) designation. This honor is granted only to those municipal clerks who complete three years of demanding education requirements; and who have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community and state. I thank you all for the honor of being your Town Clerk and for the wonderful comments many of you shared when I received my CMC designation. I have also completed my CMMC (Certified Massachusetts Municipal Clerk) exam and certification process. Currently I am awaiting my “official” CMMC designation confirmation as well. Thanks to the wonderful Town of Rehoboth, during our 375th Anniversary Celebration year, I am now the proud recipient of two very prestigious designations – thanks to you all! It is truly an honor to serve as your Town Clerk.

HISTORICAL COMMISSION GUIDE TO HISTORIC SITES

The Historical Commission has revised the “Guide to Historic Sites” and it is now available at Town Hall – Town Clerk’s window - free of charge. The Historical Commission did a wonderful job on this year’s revision and dedicated the updated guide in memory of E. Otis Dyer, Jr. - a life-long resident and student of Rehoboth history. Otis was a member, Chairman, and Secretary of the Historical Commission and Rehoboth Antiquarian Society for many years. Otis also helped write the first “Guide to Historic Sites”. Please stop by and get your copy or download from the Town Website under the Historical Commission webpage or under “Forms / Documents” on the home page @ https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/. A direct download link is: https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/sites/rehobothma/files/uploads/rehoboth_historic_sites_booklet.pdf

ANNUAL TOWN CENSUS

Our Annual Town Census Forms for year 2018 will be mailed to all households in Rehoboth during the first week of January. The Board of Registrars is required to conduct an annual listing of residents as of the first of January each year. In addition to the name, address, telephone number, date of birth, occupation, veteran status, and number of dogs, the form includes a section for school information required by the school department. This year, please note a section for e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers. If you no longer have a home phone and use a cell phone, please let us know so we can update our records.

As a reminder, failure to return the completed census form may result in voters being placed on an “inactive” voting list or being removed from the voting list. Please do not let this happen to you – please return your census as soon as you receive it in January. Simply review the pre-printed Census Form, make corrections, sign it, and return it no later than January 31st. You can choose to return the Census Form via the U.S. Postal Service, utilize the Census drop off boxes at Town Hall, Blanding Library, Bristol County Savings Bank, or the Senior Center. Additionally, you may scan your signed and completed census forms and email them to either LSchwall@town.rehoboth.ma.us or LShaker@town.rehoboth.ma.us . We look forward to hearing from you in January.

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 or X-3109. Blank Census forms are also available on the town website @ http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/census-information

For the convenience of dog owners, we have again included with the Census, an application for the 2018 Dog License(s). This gives dog owners the opportunity to license their dogs well before the annual April 1st due date should they want to license their dogs early. Dog license applications must be accompanied by a current rabies certificate (with a vaccination date of May 1, 2018 or later) and proof of spay or neuter, unless we already have it on file in the Clerk’s Office (if applying for the $10 licensing fee). If you are unsure, please give the office a call and we can let you know what we have in our database. Dog owners should note that the license(s) will not be returned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is included (the current postage will be printed on the dog license application). For your information, Seekonk and Rehoboth will be teaming up again in March of 2018 for our Annual Rabies Clinic at the Seekonk Highway Department (corner of Route 44 & Lake Street). Details will be printed in the 2018 Census mailer.

If you are returning your dog tag application as well as your census forms, residents are asked to return their completed forms via mail, e-mail, or place their form in one of the “Census” containers located at the drop off locations mentioned earlier in this article. The containers will remain at these locations through the end of January for your convenience.

NOTE: 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.

Results of the census are used to prove residency for a variety of reasons. The data is also 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 return your census as soon as possible ~ thank you.

ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION – APRIL 2, 2018

The Annual Town Election for the Town of Rehoboth will be held on Monday, April 2, 2018 with the polls open from 7 am to 8 pm. All three precincts will be open.

For those who do not participate in a political party’s caucus process, nomination papers will be available as of January 2, 2018 for any registered voter in Rehoboth wishing to run for election on the Town ballot. The 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 Rehoboth voters, to the Board of Registrars at the Town Clerk’s Office (148 Peck Street) by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 12th.

* The signature minimum changes after each gubernatorial election as per MGL Chapter 53 – Section 6. The 11-4-14 election changed our minimum signature requirement for nomination papers from 45 to 38 (1% of the entire vote cast for governor at the preceding biennial state election ~ 3,796 x 1% = 38).

Positions to be elected on the ballot for 2018 are Moderator (one for 1 year), Selectmen (two position for 3 years), Town Clerk (one for 3 years), Assessor (one for 3 years), School Committee (two for 3 years), Planning Board (two for 5 years), Park Commission (one for 5 years and one for 3 years), Housing Authority (one for 5 years, one for 3 years), Storm Water Officer (one for 3 years), Tree Warden (one for 3 years) and Water Commissioner (one for 3 years).

The final voter registration date, to be eligible to vote in the Annual Town Election, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13th 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 online at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com , 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


ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS

Applications for absentee ballots are available as of January 2nd and may be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office or online @ http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee_ballot.pdf. An absentee ballot may only be obtained by written request and with the voter’s original signature. As a result, an “Absentee Application By A Family Member” form can be downloaded from the Secretary of State’s website @ http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee_ballot_fam.pdf


TOWN OFFICES CLOSED

The Town Offices will be closed on Monday, December 25th and Tuesday, December 26th in observance of the Christmas Holiday.

Lynn and I would like to wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season and peace and prosperity to all Rehoboth residents for the New Year.

Sincerely,
Laura & Lynn