From the Town Clerk

Hello All ~ I hope this article finds you and your family healthy and safe.  As we start to reopen Massachusetts, please continue to stay safe and please make sure you are wearing your face covering when going out in public so we can all stay safe in Rehoboth.  I’m praying all our residents, families and friends stay virus free.  I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day even though our long weekend was celebrated in a little different way than previous years.  In honor of Memorial Day, I would like to take a moment to pause and remember all the brave men, women, and families, who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation.  If you are interested in viewing the Rehoboth Memorial Day ceremony, here is a link to the video on Rehoboth TV:

https://www.rehobothtv.org/ondemandPlayer?ShowID=3514

For those of you who do not have internet access, the video will be played on Local TV Channel 9 over the next two weeks.  As of this writing, the Memorial Day Ceremony schedule appears to be 2:00 a.m.; 6:00 a.m.; 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. daily.

In response to the Governor Baker’s Executive Order and guidance from Public Health Officials due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and State of Emergency, all municipal buildings continue to be closed to the public. This action was taken to provide a balance in which the Town can continue to provide essential services to the public, while attempting to mitigate the spread of the virus. We are asking the public to use our on-line resources for on-line payment and contact us via email and telephone with any questions that you may have for us.  Residents are encouraged to use the on-line services and the drop box outside of Town Hall (148 Peck Street) for bill payments, renewals or to deposit other items requiring our attention. All Town employees are working regular work hours and will be available to assist you with your needs, questions and concerns.

ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION DETAILS
As you know, the April 7, 2020 election has been postponed to Tuesday, June 30, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor’s social distancing order. The majority of our election workers are older adults, and as we know, the senior population has been identified as being at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.  As a result, out of concern for our election workers, the Clerk’s Office conducted a recent election worker survey of all our election workers, which indicated that 62.30% of the election workers are not comfortable working the 6-30-2020 election due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, at the May 26, 2020 Board of Selectmen’s Meeting, the Selectmen voted to reduce the polling locations from three to one central polling location and to reduce the polling hours for the June 30, 2020 election.  The Selectmen voted Precincts 1, 2 and 3 will ALL be voting at one polling location, the COA Senior Center, 55 Bay State Road (Rt. 118) from 12:00 p.m. (Noon) – 4:00 p.m. only.  The combining of the polling locations allows us to reduce the number of election workers required to conduct the election.  The timeframe complies with MGL requirements and provides a reduced period of time the election workers will be exposed to gatherings larger than 10 people, as elections are exempt from the Governor’s 10-person maximum ruling. Should the revised voting in-person timeframe not work with your schedule, please consider voting early or absentee. We have received numerous Absentee and Early Voting Ballot application requests so far (thank you all), and are highly recommending you consider one of the options below for the 6-30-2020 Annual Town Election for your health and safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are concerned about voting in person, or will be unable to get to the polls when open (12:00 Noon – 4:00 p.m.) please vote either Absentee or Early Voting by mail.  The difference between the two options is as follows:

• Both ballot applications Absentee Voting (AV) or Early Voting (EV) have been voted permissible for the June 30, 2020 Annual Town Election (ATE) due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 
• If you would like to vote just the 6-30-2020 ATE Election ballot – you may want to request an Early Voting ballot for just that election.  Here is a link to the EV Ballot Application:

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2020-Municipal-Early-Ballot-Application.pdf

• If you would like to vote all remaining elections in 2020 by mail (6-30-2020-ATE, 9-1-2020 State Primary and 11-3-2020 Presidential & State Election), you may want to request an Absentee Ballot and make sure you mark “All Elections This Year”. Here is a link to the AV Ballot Application: 

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee/English-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf

If you choose the above AV option (AV-All Elections This Year), and are a registered “Unenrolled”, “Independent” or “other party designation*” (other than Republican, Democrat, Green-Rainbow or Libertarian Party), please make sure you enter the “Party” ballot you are requesting for the September 1^st, State Primary (Choices will be:  Republican, Democratic, Green-Rainbow or Libertarian ballot).  

*Other Party Designations:  https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepar/paridx.htm

Voters who are registered Republican, Democrat, Green-Rainbow or Libertarian will only be able to choose their registered party ballot for the 9-1-2020 Primary Election.  All applications for an absentee ballot must be received by the Town Clerk before noon on Monday, June 29, 2020, the last business day before the election.  We strongly suggest you apply, as soon as possible, for an Absentee or Early Voting Ballot due to slower mail times.  If you do not have access to online services, any registered voter may apply for an absentee or early voting ballot by sending a signed request to the Town Clerk’s office.  We suggest, if you are able to sign and scan your absentee or early ballot request that you e-mail it to LShaker@Town.Rehoboth.MA.US or LSchwall@Town.Rehoboth.MA.US.  By doing so, it will speed up the processing time.  Once you receive your ballot in the mail, please return it as soon as possible.  Your early or absentee voting ballot must be received by the Town Clerk before the polls close on Election Day.

As you know, I personally believe, voting is a tremendous gift and your vote is vital in deciding the forward motion of our town government.  During this time of health concerns and uncertainty, if you are a registered voter and unsure if you will be able to come out and vote on June 30^th, or you are concerned about voting at the COA Senior Center polling location on June 30^th, please voice your opinion by voting either early (EV) or absentee (AV).  That being said and as mentioned above, please allow ample mailing time – you will need MORE THAN ONE WEEK for the Town Clerk’s Office to receive your application, process the application, and mail your ballot via US Mail.  Your completed ballot must be returned in a signed and sealed envelope to the Town Clerk’s Office (not polling location) no later than the closing of the polls on election day; June 30, 2020.  We want to ensure that everyone who wants to vote is able to vote, while staying safe and healthy.  Remember, as President Roosevelt so eloquently stated: “Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN ELECTION WORKER?
I would like to encourage anyone who has an interest in becoming an election worker to complete a Talent Bank Form (available on the town website @

https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/sites/rehobothma/files/uploads/talent_bank_form-revised.pdf )

or reach out to the Town Clerk’s Office to learn more about the position. These are challenging times. The legislature is currently reviewing the current election law in advance of the September Primary and November General Election. In light of the current pandemic, changes will be made to the existing election law and more help may be needed at the polls. Please consider becoming an Election Worker today.  If you would like to see what an election worker does, please check out the “Election Worker Training Resources” on the Town Clerk’s webpage @

https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/election-worker-training-resources

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
As you learned last month, the date for the Annual Town Meeting, and a Special Town Meeting preceding the Annual, had been POSTPONED by the Board of Selectmen from Tuesday, May 12^th, at 7:00 p.m. to Tuesday, June 16, 2020.  However, recent legislation enables the Board of Selectmen to schedule Town Meeting to occur after July 1, 2020 due to concerns related to public health. It was voted at the May 18^th Board of Selectmen meeting that the Board to postpone the Rehoboth Annual Town Meeting & Special Town Meeting to a later time to be determined; possibly sometime the end of July or August.  We will keep you posted.  To be in the know . . . please subscribe to Urgent Alerts and News & Announcements on the town website to learn of any changes to the Town Meeting date ~ thank you!

UPCOMING VOTER REGISTRATION SESSION
As of this writing, the final Voter Registration date to be eligible to participate in the rescheduled Annual Town Election voter registration session will be Friday, June 19^th.  Prospective voters are reminded that they may also register to vote online by going to www.RegisterToVoteMA.com , by picking up a voter registration form at the Rehoboth Post Office, by calling the Town Clerk’s Office to request a Mail-In voter registration form, or download a form online @

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf.

7^TH ANNUAL RABIES CLINIC ~ POSTPONED ~ DATE TO BE DETERMINED
As you know, the Rehoboth-Seekonk March 14, 2020 Rabies Clinic was postponed due to the Governor’s Orders of “gatherings no more than ten people”.  We tentatively rescheduled the rabies clinic to Saturday, June 6, 2020 at the Rehoboth Animal Shelter (148 Peck Street) from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 p.m. but were awaiting guidance from the State to see if we will be able to hold the clinic due to the COVID-19 gathering mandates.  On May 22^nd, we announced that the Rehoboth Rabies Clinic scheduled for June 6, 2020 has been postponed. Phase One of the Massachusetts Reopening Plan allows only for gatherings of under 10-people, which makes it impractical to conduct the rabies clinic safely and remain in compliance with the guidance. We will consider rescheduling the rabies clinic as further guidance becomes available.  We will keep you posted on the rescheduled Rabies Clinic on the Town website. 

 2020 DOG LICENSES
The 2020 Dog licenses were due April 1, 2020.  However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Animal Control Officer and I have postponed the late fees until after the State of Emergency is lifted.  You may license your dog(s) by dropping off your payment at the Drop Box in front of Town Hall (148 Peck Street).  Please make sure you include any updated rabies vaccination certificates. Licenses may also be obtained online @ https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothgovsvcs, or by mail (if paying by mail, 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 tell you how up-to-date our information is.  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.

Please renew your dog licenses as soon as you are able ~ thank you.  To date we registered 1,370 dogs and still have 895 to register.  Remember, in addition to being a legal requirement, registering your dog assures the prevention of rabies, and provides easy identification to reunite lost dogs with their owners because they are now in our database.

U.S. 2020 CENSUS
Make Time Today to be Counted in the U.S. Census
Recently, you received a letter from the U.S. Census Bureau, inviting you to go online to respond to the 2020 Federal Census. The U.S. Census counts every person in the country every 10 years. The information gathered through the census is used to decide how much our community receives in State and Federal money for things like public health, transportation, and education.  The census is quick, easy, and important.  Your answers are confidential.  As of 5/29/2020, 74.3% of Rehoboth’s households have responded – thank you Rehoboth!  (FYI ~ as of 5/29/2020 the Massachusetts response rate is only 62.4% and National response rate was only 60.3% – Good Job Rehoboth)!!  For the remaining 25.7% of Rehoboth households, please visit www.my2020census.gov and be counted today.  For those of you who do not have a computer or internet, the U.S. Census bureau sent out paper Census forms this month, which you can complete and mail back or you can phone in your responses.  If you would like to learn more about the 2020 US Census, please visit my webpage @

https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/census-2020-united-states .  Thank you!

ANNUAL TOWN CENSUS
Our Annual Town Census Forms for year 2020 were mailed to all households in Rehoboth during the first week of January.   If you did not receive your census form, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office.  Residents were asked to review the pre-printed forms, make corrections, and return them by the January 31, 2020 deadline.  As of May 29^th, we have 99 households in Precinct 1, 101 households in Precinct 2, and 82 households in Precinct 3 that have not yet returned their annual town census.  If you haven’t returned your 2020 census form, please send it to the clerk’s office as soon as possible.  I would personally like to thank the 4,732 households that have already returned their census forms.  Also, as a reminder, failure to return the completed 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. 

STREET LISTINGS HAVE ARRIVED
Printed copies of the 2020 Street Listings are now available.  If you would like a copy, the cost is $15/copy.  Please either reserve your copy online via “Online Payments” or send/drop off a check made payable to the Town of Rehoboth for your copy.  Please include your mailing address with your request.  If you wish to contact our office and discuss further, please call 508-252-6502 X-3109 or X-3110 or e-mail us at LShaker@Town.Rehoboth.MA.US or LSchwall@Town.Rehoboth.MA.US

CONGRATULATIONS ALL 2020 GRADUATES
During the current COVID-19 Pandemic and State of Emergency I wanted to reach out to all 2020 Graduates to share my congratulations to you on a job well done.  I am so sorry you did not get to enjoy your graduation year the way many of your peers before you have been able to enjoy.  However, I know I will always remember the 2020 graduating classes for all they had to endure and they did so accepting all that was requested of them. Congratulations and I wish you all much happiness.  Best of Luck in all you do and please, keep healthy and safe!

Anyone having questions regarding any of the above information may call the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-252-6502, X3109 or X3110 or e-mail me at LSchwall@town.rehoboth.ma.us .  In closing please consider taking advantage of the opportunity to vote Early or Absentee for the upcoming June 30, 2020 Annual Town Election in an effort to protect yourself, neighbors, other voters and election workers during the current health emergency.  We thank you for your consideration and for voting in the June 30, 2020 election.    Finally, during the month of June, Lynn, Odete and I wish all the Fathers a Happy Father’s Day.  Please remember to fly your American Flag on June 14^th in honor of Flag Day, and as Summer begins on June 20^th, we wish you all a happy, healthy, safe, and memorable Summer! 

Thank you again for your continued support.  Please stay healthy and safe! 

~ Laura ~