From the Town Clerk

Hello All ~ I hope the November issue of the Reporter finds you all healthy and safe.  As we enter the month of November, this is a friendly reminder that quarterly Real Estate & Property Taxes were due Wednesday, November 1^st. 

11-07-2023 Special Town Meeting
As you know, on Monday, September 11^th, the Board of Selectmen voted to hold a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, beginning at 7:00 PM at the Francis Farm – Museum Building.  Voter check-in will begin at 6:00 PM.  The last day to register to vote to participate in the upcoming Special Town Meeting (STM) was Saturday, October 28^th at 5:00 PM.  Warrants were delivered to every household on Thursday, October 19^th.  There are only eight questions on the warrant:  1-Authorization to use Capital Stabilization, or other source, for Senior Center Capital Improvements; 2-Appropriating PEG Access and Cable Funds for supporting cable access services for the Town; 3-Authorizing Prior Year Bills to be paid (this article will be amended up from $16,903.98 as printed in the warrant to $17,503.21 – an increase of $599.23 to include an invoice for HHS-Nurse-Medical Supplies); 4-Amending the Board of Health Transfer Station-Offset Receipts account from the 5-9-23-ATM; 5-Accepting Donation of the “Corn Crib”; 6-Amending General Bylaws-Article IV-Town Officials-Appointed-Section 3A-Conservation Commission; 7-Amend Language on Agreement Between Town of Rehoboth and South Fire Association-(Martin Street) and finally Article 8 – Transact any other business that may come before Town Meeting.  Speaking of which, the first “test” question we will be using at Town Meeting will be to rename the Francis Farm Museum Building.  Two names have been selected and will be revealed at the 7:00 PM, November 7, 2023 Special Town Meeting – looking forward to seeing you there!!

2023 Dog License Reminders
Unfortunately, after five mailed reminders, numerous monthly reminders in the Rehoboth Reporter, and reminder phone calls from our office and the Animal Control Officer, Rob Johnson, we were required to mail non-criminal citations to those residents who have not paid their 2023 dog license fees, due April 1^st.  $25-Citations were mailed on October 2^nd.  If you received a citation, please make sure your dogs have a valid rabies certificate and send, or bring, your licensing fees to town hall as soon as possible.  We thank the 2,091 Dog Owners who have renewed their dog’s 2023 licenses. Up 173 dogs from 2022 ~ thank you all!  Out of 2,234 dogs in Rehoboth, we currently have 143 license renewals outstanding.  That is a huge decrease from last year’s 402 unlicensed dogs, at this time.  Please register your dog(s) either online, by mail, or in person to avoid any further late fees.  Please Note:  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, pay today.  If you are over 70 years old, registration fees are waived; however, you still must keep your dog’s rabies vaccinations current and register your dog every year. 

Please renew your dog’s license now.  You may pay by mail, at Town Clerk’s Office, or online @ https://permiteyes.us/rehoboth/publichome.php . We also have the drop box outside of the Town Hall (340 Anawan Street-Route 118) for after-hours drop-offs.

If you no longer have your dog, please call 508-252-6502 Ext. 3109 or Ext. 3112 or you may email TownClerk@RehobothMA.gov to update our records.  Yearly dog licensing ensures all dogs in Rehoboth have updated rabies vaccinations.  This process is in place to protect us all. ~ Thank you! 

Absentee and Vote by Mail Ballot Applications – 2023 and 2024
The Clerk’s Office would like to remind voters that there are no elections scheduled, with the exception of the upcoming November 7^th Special Town Meeting, for the remainder of 2023.  We have been receiving Absentee and Vote by Mail applications, which are only good for the current year.  Unfortunately, if you are one of those voters, you will need to complete another application in 2024 in order to receive your requested election ballot in the mail.  Next year will be a busy year for elections [March 5, 2024-Presidential Primary; April 2, 2024-Annual Town Election; State-Primary will be a Tuesday in late August / early to mid-September (the State has not determined the date for this election at this time); 11-5-2024-State/Presidential Election].  Therefore, as a convenience to all voters, in your 2024 Census Mailer you will receive the first week of January, 2024, I will be including a double-sided Vote-By-Mail application for the 2024 Elections; should you wish to complete.  (Please Note:  Absentee voting is not permitted for Special or Annual Town Meetings, as per State law).  You may also download an application from State Elections in 2024 by going to:  https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/elections-and-voting.htm .  Thank you for voting – your voice matters!!  Remember my favorite voting quote:  “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

Town Offices Closed
Just a reminder, Town Offices will be closed on Friday, November 10, 2023 to observe Veteran’s Day and Thursday, November 23^rd for Thanksgiving Day.  In addition to Thanksgiving Day, Town Offices will close at noon on Wednesday, November 22^nd and remain closed on Friday, November 24^th, the day after Thanksgiving.

Please Thank A Veteran
Please take a moment on Veteran’s Day (Saturday, November 11) to think about and thank the Veterans in your life, along with all the other Veterans for their dedication, service, and sacrifice for our Country. I thank you all!

Finally . . . Kerrie, Jenn and I would like to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.  Have a healthy and safe November.  I look forward to chatting with you again in December.

Sincerely,
Laura