From the Town Clerk

Hello All ~ Happy February ~ I hope you are staying warm! As a friendly reminder, Real Estate Tax Bills were due Friday, February 1st. Payment can be made via mail, hand delivery to Town Hall-Tax Collector’s Office, drop box outside of town hall or online @ http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us. If paying online, please scroll down to “Online Payments” and then click “Tax Payments” on the Town’s homepage.

2019 REHOBOTH TOWN CENSUS
By now, you should have received your 2019 census form, dog license renewal, tax information card from our Treasurer/Tax Collector, Cheryl Gouveia (green insert) and our 2019 calendar/town directory. This year’s calendar features the Rehoboth Minutemen as they march down Route 44 for Rehoboth’s 375th Anniversary. Hopefully, you find the calendar and town directory a helpful tool. I would also like to thank the many residents for their kind comments on how useful the calendar and directory are to them throughout the year. Every household in the Town of Rehoboth received one 2019 Calendar in their Census mailer. If you would like an extra 2019 calendar for you or your family, just stop by Town Hall and ask Lynn or I for a copy. I also have extra calendars available at the COA and outside various departments at Town Hall. If you can’t make it to Town Hall, please call or send me an e-mail and I will make sure you get a copy. If you did not receive your census mailer, please let me know at 508-252-6502 x-3110 or email me at lschwall@town.rehoboth.ma.us.

I would like to thank the 2,559 households that quickly reviewed their census data, made any necessary changes, and returned the forms to us. Again, this year, residents are afforded the opportunity to drop off their census forms at locations around town (Bristol Savings Bank, Blanding Library, COA-Senior Center, and Town Offices), the outside drop box at Town Hall, fax, e-mail, or mail them in. I would especially like to thank those families who processed their census forms and dog tags online. It was exciting to see that residents were able to choose the most convenient way possible to respond. Lynn and I are processing your changes and preparing the documents for our Registrars. During the months of February/March, the Registrars will begin contacting those residents who have not returned their 2019 census forms. Please respond as soon as possible so we do not have to bother you with a phone call ~ thank you.

Just a reminder, the census form does not register you to vote or allow you to change your political designation. We’ve come across many census forms in the past with the party designations crossed out and replaced with something else or a designation added to individuals who are not currently registered to vote. If you want to register to vote or make a change to party designation, you must complete the appropriate forms as we need your signature to either register you to vote or change your political party affiliation. This can be done in person, by mail, or online. Simply call us at 508-252-6502 x-3110 or x-3109 or e-mail us at LSchwall@town.rehoboth.ma.us or LShaker@town.rehoboth.ma.us. If you prefer to register or change your political affiliation online, please go to www.RegisterToVoteMA.com. Mail-in voter registration applications are also available @ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf - please complete the application, save it, and e-mail or mail the signed form to us. In order to be eligible to vote in the upcoming Annual Town Election (Monday, April 1, 2019), all voter registrations and/or political party changes must be made no later than 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 12th. As an added feature on the 2019 Census form, if you are a registered voter, you will note an (A) or (I) under the first column of the census “Voter Status”. Your political party is listed in the last column “Political Party”. Under Voter Status, “A” represents an active voter; “I” represents an inactive voter. Please contact our office as soon as possible if you have an “I” after your political party. Also, many people seem to be confused with a political party of “U” by their name. The State considers all “Independent” voters as “Unenrolled”; therefore the letter “U” appearing in the political party column. Independent is the same as Unenrolled. This gives the voter the opportunity to choose the Party ballot they wish during a Primary Election. The four current “political parties” are Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, and Green Rainbow.

Town Clerk Online Payments
As a reminder, we continue to offer the option of a Credit/Debit card or EFT/ACH payment system, available on the town website under online payments and then clicking on “Town Clerk Payments”. This feature enables you to conduct several town business functions online, like processing dog licenses, through the town website @ www.town.rehoboth.ma.us or directly to town clerk online payments by going to https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothgovsvcs. Paying by Debit/Credit Cards or EFT/ACH payments is also available when visiting the Town Clerk’s office. We hope this added feature makes our town services more accessible and convenient for the residents. In 2018 we had a total of 535 individuals take advantage of our credit card/EFT payment system, which is up 172 transactions from 2018. The online activity this year (2018) generated receipts of $14,968.58, which is an increase of $7,272.85 over 2017 for items such as genealogy fees, business certificates, raffle permits, dog licenses, birth/death/marriage certificates, street listings, and various miscellaneous items related to the clerk’s office. During 2018 we also had a nice bump in online sales as a result of Rehoboth’s 375th Anniversary Celebration activities that were processed through the Town Website.

Dog Licenses for 2019
2019 Dog Licenses are now available and may be obtained by mail, online at https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothgovsvcs, or at the Town Clerk’s Office. Town Hall hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The licensing fees are as follows: Male or female dog $20.00, female-spayed or male-neutered $10.00. If paying by check, please make sure it is made payable to “Town of Rehoboth”. Dog licenses are due annually by April 1st. 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 with postage (the current postage is 71¢ for one dog tag, 93¢ for two dog tags and 1.15¢ for three tags). Since January 2nd we have processed over 354 of 2,000+ dog licenses, which is almost 100 more than last year ~ thank you all for submitting so quickly.

2019 – 6th ANNUAL RABIES CLINIC
Keep them safe . . . inoculate! The 6th Annual Rehoboth-Seekonk $12 Dog and Cat Rabies Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, March 9, 2019 - 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 2019 Dog Licenses. For more details, please call 508-252-6502 X-3110 or 3109.

APRIL 1, 2019 – ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION
The Annual Town Election for Rehoboth will be held on Monday, April 1, 2019 with the polls scheduled to be opened 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 50 registered voters, to the Board of Registrars at the Town Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 11th. If you choose to go through the Democratic or Republican caucus process, the upcoming caucus dates and locations are as follows:

The Democratic Town Committee Caucus to nominate candidates for the April 1, 2019 Town Election will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Blanding Public Library/Goff Hall, 124 Bay State Road.

The Republican Town Committee Caucus to nominate candidates for the April 1, 2019 Town Election will be held on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 - 7:30 p.m., at the COA - Senior Center – 55 Bay State Road. In the case of inclement weather, an alternate date of Thursday, February 7, 2019 - 7:30 p.m., has been scheduled, also at the COA – Senior Center.

Positions to be elected on the ballot for 2019 are Moderator (one for 1 year), Selectmen (one position for 3 years), Treasurer (one for 3 years), Assessor (one for 3 years), School Committee (one for 3 years), Constable (three for 3 years), Planning Board (one for 5 years), Park Commission (one for 5 years), Housing Authority (three positions; one for 5 years, one for 4 years, and one for 2 years), and Water Commissioner (two for 3 years and one for 1 year).

The final voter registration date to be eligible to vote in the Annual Town Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12th 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, stopping by the Town Clerk’s Office to fill out the necessary forms in person, or register online @ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/ or www.RegisterToVoteMA.com.

ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS
Applications for absentee ballots are now available 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, March 29th at 5:00 p.m. for the April 1, 2019 Annual Town Election. Absentee ballot request forms are also available online @ http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee/English-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf. Any questions regarding voter eligibility or requests for mail-in voter registration forms may be directed to the Town Clerk’s Office.

TOWN HALL MAIL & ONLINE PAYMENTS
Very Important – Please, it is requested that when you send correspondence to any office at the Town Hall, you only include information specific to the department you want to communicate with. As an example, residents might send in their tax payment along with their census form or dog license. Tax payments would go to the Tax Collector whereas census forms or dog licenses would go to the Town Clerk’s Office. By including multiple offices in one envelope, it may delay processing your requests or payments. Also, there are two separate Online Payment accounts on the Town Website: Tax Payments and Town Clerk Payments. Please make sure if you are processing your dog’s license online that you are selecting “Town Clerk Payments” and not Tax Payments. Thank you for your consideration.

BUSINESS CERTIFICATES
Business owners whose business certificate will expire during January through June of 2019 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 Town of Rehoboth. You may now renew online using a debit/credit card or electronic check at
http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/business-certificates.

If you have any questions on any of the above items, please feel free to contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-252-6502, X3109 or X3110.

As a reminder, the Town Offices will be closed on Monday, February 18th in honor of President’s Day. We hope you enjoy the President’s Day holiday. Also, a Happy Valentine’s Day to all from Laura and Lynn in the Town Clerk’s Office.

In my absence, during the month of December due to knee replacement surgery, I did not notice that the Rehoboth Garden Club placed their beautiful holiday wreaths on the front of Town Hall. Thank you all for making our holidays so special with your amazing wreaths!

Even though the weather is cool, it is encouraging that the days are getting longer. Spring cannot be too far behind. Thank you all – please take care. I look forward to talking with you in March.

~ Laura & Lynn