From the Town Clerk

Hello All ~ where did July go or for that matter . . . where did 2018 go? Time certainly does fly when you are having fun!!! A friendly reminder, real estate taxes were due Wednesday, August 1, 2018. You may process your tax payment online @ https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothma, drop them off at town hall (hours Monday-Thursday 8-4 and Friday 8-Noon), drop off your payment in the outside drop box (24/7), or mail to Cheryl Gouveia Treasurer/Tax Collector via US Post Office ~ thank you.

Override Election Results
Whether you were for or against the override election, you have to be happy with the voter turnout. 46% voter turnout is wonderful for Rehoboth. Normally we have about 10-15% of the voters turn out to vote. It is magnificent that everyone was able to get out and have a say in whether the override passed or not. Of the 3,976 votes placed, 2,236 were in favor of the override and 1,740 against. The election results by precinct appear below:

I would personally like to thank the many people that were involved in making sure the election ran smoothly. Lynn Shaker, Assistant Town Clerk, our Precinct Wardens, Clerks, Inspectors and Constables. Our elections set up and break down officials – Neal, Dan and South Station Firemen, Doug, John and Ralph. Vinos for the delicious dinners delivered warm to each precinct and Dunkin Donuts for our coffee and donuts in the morning. Also, thank you to our Registrars Kathy, Helene, and Jennifer and the voters of Rehoboth for making the election run smoothly.

Rehoboth 375 Clam Bake
It was a wonderful day on Saturday, July 21st for the 375th Anniversary Celebration Clam Bake. The weather was absolutely perfect and Francis Farm did an outstanding job! Food was delicious, games were fun, music amazing and the camaraderie was inspiring. Volunteers from the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society, Carpenter Museum, Blanding Library, and Hornbine School were all available with informative displays of the history of Rehoboth’s Annual Clambakes, Historical Games played at the Hornbine School and even the new telescope which is now available at the Blanding Library. Thank you all for making our clambake so special with your presence. Guests enjoyed kid’s games (historic and present day games), water toys and balloons, and we even had potato sack races available along with blueberry pie eating contests for children and adults. I have a lot of people to thank for making this event possible. Odete Lacourse, Ken & Linda Foley, David Cascioli and staff of Francis Farm. Our DJs and musical entertainment, which all played GRATIS “FREE OF CHARGE” PERFORMANCES (DJ-Heather Newell and Assistant, Andy; Richard Barrett & his band (John Dino, Al Pixly; Ernie Brough; Roger Rebeiro and Victor Wortherspoon); Rehoboth’s Got Talent Award Winners: Zachariah Padin and Benjamin Foss. Thank you to our Photographers: Kevin Hebert, Jeff Greenberg, Jacob Greenberg & Sandra Phillips, too.

In honor of their generous donation to the 375th Anniversary Celebration Clambake by performing for free, I would like to share some contact information for those who have provided it. DJ Heather Newell’s cell is 978-406-3301. She is available for DJ/MC services; games (music bingo, name that tune, trivia, etc.); she also sings and can be hired for solos (weddings, funerals, birthdays, etc.). Additionally, Heather sings with 2 bands that can be hired for private events: Whiskey Detour (www.facebook.com/whiskeydetour) is a country/rock cover band; and All Over (www.facebook.com/allover) is a party/dance cover band that plays hits from all over the charts. Fiddle and stomp board player - Benjamin Foss’ email address is fossstringedinstruments@gmail.com. He can also be found on Facebook at Benjamin Foss. People can also contact Ben for instrument repair and restoration services, as that is his primary business.

Finally, I would like to thank the Clambake Subcommittee - Co-Chairperson, Press/Promotions/Social Media/Tickets – Connie Wenzel Jordan; Games – Kim & Kevin Fagundes. Pies – Sandra Phillips & Cheryl Gouveia. Prizes – Kim Fagundes, Jean Grota (potato sack bags too), Cheryl Gouveia. Raffles-Sandy, Cheryl, Abby Abrahamson & Kim. Set Up/Take Down – Abby, Sandy, Kim & Kevin, Jean, Jake & Sheila Kramer, Frank & Cheryl Gouveia, Nancy & Jim Muri and Gerry Schwall; Water Balloons by Rehoboth 375th Anniversary Celebration members and thank you all Clam Bake Sub-Committee Members – mentioned above and Jennifer & David LeComte. Thank you also . . . Display Tables – Rehoboth Antiquarian Society – Carpenter Museum – Blanding Library & Hornbine School (Elyssa Tardiff, Suzanne Withers, Rebecca Smith, Maureen Whittemore, Whitney Pape, Sue Robert & Dave Downs who demonstrated the historical games from the Hornbine School).

2020 US Census – Local Addresses Update
July 30 and 31, 2018 marked the upload of 662 updates to the 2020 US Census address database for the Town of Rehoboth. As you know, Federal funding for Rehoboth is based on our population and as a result, the Federal US Census Bureau required the Clerk’s Office to update Rehoboth’s address listing with all potential addresses up to the Census year of 2020. With the help of the Assessor’s Department and Planning Department we successfully updated the required documents to make sure every household is counted; therefore providing us the opportunity to receive the maximum funding, which we are entitled to due to our population. I would like to personally thank Linda and Mandy from the Assessor’s Office, Stacy and Andrew from Planning, Derek Rousseau for Tech Support and Lynn from the Clerk’s Office for your help with the data for project.

2018 Street Listings Are Available
If you would like a copy of the 2018 Street Listings, there is a charge of $15.00. You may pick up your copy at Town Hall – Clerk’s Office or online @ https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothgovsvcs; they are going fast. Also available soon are the printed 2017 Annual Reports, which are free to residents. The Annual Report is also available online @
https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/sites/rehobothma/files/uploads/2017_annual_report_document-final-4.pdf

2018 Dog Tags – Past Due – Citations Unfortunately Issued
I am pleased we have registered 2,080 dogs so far this year, unfortunately, we still have 91 dogs that remain unlicensed. All dog licenses were due April 1st, we offered dog owners a 60-day grace period, and we sent several reminder postcards and letters prior to the $15 late fee being imposed on June 1st. Additional reminders were printed in the Rehoboth Reporter monthly since January, press releases were sent to local newspapers, and e-alerts were sent out to those residents who registered their e-mail address with our website. Our Animal Control Officer even called delinquent dog owners to remind them to pay their late dog fees prior to the non-criminal citations being sent. We really did try to alert the dog owners prior to the July 15th Citation and the additional $25 late fee was imposed. If you are one of the 91 residents that have not renewed their dog’s license this year, please make sure the dog has a valid rabies certificate and register your dog as soon as possible. A $10.00 dog license renewal fee has now escalated to $56.47 per dog. Please license your dog as soon as possible to avoid further action involving the Animal Control Officer. The State authorizes all Animal Control Officers to fine delinquent dog owners $50/day until they renew their dog’s yearly licenses. Please do not let that happen to you. If you were one of the 97 residents who received a certified letter from our Animal Control Officer, please pay as soon as possible via mail, stopping by town hall, dropping off your payment and valid rabies certificate in the “drop box” outside of town hall, or by paying online at:
https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothgovsvcs
Please know if your dog is ill and can’t receive a rabies shot, has passed away or moved, we will not know unless you notify the clerk’s office 508-252-6502 x-3109 or x-3110 ~ thank you.

Upcoming Elections ~ Tuesday, September 4 & November 6, 2018
Upcoming Town Meeting – Monday, October 29, 2018
Next Town Meeting Scheduled for Monday, October 29, 2018. Town Meeting will be held at the D-R Regional High School Auditorium. Last day to register to vote is Friday, October 19, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Business Certificates
If you are filing for a new business within the Town of Rehoboth, or if you are planning to file a DBA (Doing Business As), you must first go to the Building Inspector/Zoning Officer’s office at 148 Peck Street to determine if any filings are necessary with their office prior to completing the final step of filing with the Town Clerk’s office. The fee to file for a business certificate is $50. The certificate is valid for four years. Should an amendment to the business certificate be needed, a $10 fee will be charged. For forms and additional business certificate information, please visit our town website @
http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/business-certificates

In closing, as a volunteer on the Town Event’s Committee, I would like to remind you to mark your calendar for the upcoming 19th Annual Larry Procopio – Harvest Block Party on Saturday, September 15 (rain date – Sunday September 17) from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Redway Plain. This year we are teaming up with the 375th Anniversary Celebration Committee and the Rehoboth Anawan Lions to make this year’s event even more special. Any vendors that are interested in obtaining a booth should contact Chairperson, Mary Beth Moriarty @ maryelizabethmoriarty@yahoo.com.

Lynn and I wish you all a safe, happy, most enjoyable summer, and a wonderful Labor Day holiday. I look forward to talking with you in September. Please remember to vote on September 4th.

Laura