From the Town Clerk

Hello All ~ Happy July. I can’t believe we are more than half way through 2018. I also can’t believe five full years have passed since I became your Town Clerk. I have to say . . . time sure does fly when you are having fun!!! I am definitely having fun and absolutely love being your Town Clerk. Thank you for another exciting, interesting, challenging, and informative year!

UPCOMING JULY 17, 2018 SPECIAL TOWN
PROPOSITION 2½ OVERRIDE ELECTION
A Proposition 2 ½ Override Election, for the Town of Rehoboth, will be held on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 with the polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All three precincts will be open Precinct I, Town Office - 148 Peck Street, Precinct II the Gladys L. Hurrell, Rehoboth Senior Center at 55 Bay State Road, and Precinct III South Fire Station – 104 Pleasant Street.

If unavailable to vote on Tuesday, July 17th, please request an absentee ballot and let your voice be heard. Applications for absentee ballots continue to be available and may be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office. A written – signed request is required to obtain a ballot. Absentee ballot applications can be obtained online at: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee/English-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf
Absentee Ballot Applications are also available at the Blanding Library, Post Office, and Senior Center in addition to Town Hall. If you decide to come to Town Hall to complete your absentee ballot application, you may also vote and seal your ballot in an envelope to be opened and processed on July 17th. Town Clerk’s Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The deadline to file an absentee ballot application is Monday, July 16th @ 12:00 Noon. All completed absentee ballots must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office by 8:00 p.m. on July 17, 2018 in order to be processed in the Proposition 2½ override election.

For those who will be able to vote on Tuesday, July 17th, all three Precincts will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you are not sure if you are registered to vote or what precinct you vote in, look up your voter status on the Secretary of State’s website at:
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx
Simply enter your first and last name, your date of birth, and zip code. Check the “I understand” box and then click on “search”. Your voter information will be displayed. You will see whether your voter registration is active, note your party affiliation, and confirm your voting precinct. You can even get directions to that precinct with the click of a button. Also provided is a list of elected officials and additional election resources. If your registration indicates your voter status as inactive, please contact the Clerk’s office prior to the July 17th election so we can alleviate any potential problems on the 17th. Last day to register to vote in this election is/was, Wednesday, June 27, 2018; the Clerk’s Office will be open from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. on June 27th for last minute registrations.

Also, the Selectmen, in conjunction with the Finance Committee, will be holding an informational session on the tax implications of the 7-17-2018 - 2½ Override Election on Monday, July 9, 2018 @ 7:00 p.m. during their regularly scheduled Selectmen’s meeting at the Senior Center.

REMINDER ABOUT: MUNICIPAL BALLOT QUESTION COMMITTEES
A ballot question committee is defined as “a political committee which receives or expends money or other things of value for the purpose of favoring or opposing the adoption or rejection of a specific question or questions submitted to the voters including, without limitation, a charter change, an initiative or referendum question or a constitutional amendment.” (MA-OCPF)

Reminder: “If a ballot question appears on a municipal ballot, a committee favoring or opposing such a question must register its committee and file reports with the city or town clerk or election commission in that municipality prior to raising any money”. (MA-OCPF)

CALLING ALL INTERESTED ELECTION WORKERS
Would you like to be an Election Worker? For those interested, I have placed my election worker training PowerPoint and handout materials on the Town Clerk’s page of the town website if you would like to review. Go to: https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/election-worker-training-resources and if, after reviewing the materials you would like to become an election worker, please fill out a talent bank form and become a part of our wonderful team.

NON-RESPONDENTS TO ANNUAL TOWN CENSUS
If you have not responded to the census, your voter status will change to inactive unless you return the signed confirmation card stating that you still live in the Town of Rehoboth. Individuals that are on the Inactive List (those who do not return our acknowledgement card or who have not answered our annual town census) will need to provide proof of continuous residency before being allowed to vote in any federal, state, or town election and/or town meeting. We still have 173 households that have not responded to our 2018 town census. Non-Respondent Households in Precinct I = 49, Precinct II = 67 and Precinct III = 57.

MASSACHUSETTS TOWN & CITY CLERK’S ASSOCIATION (MTCA) CONFERENCE
As you know, one of my goals is to make the Town Clerk’s office more accessible to the public. On June 13, 14, and 15, 2018, the Massachusetts Clerk’s Association offered a three-day workshop offering several classes, which I felt would benefit in providing enhanced services to the Town along with fulfilling the requirements of my CMMC recertification.

The classes I took were: Potpourri on Elections, Amending Town Charters & Vital Records – Presenters were Michelle Tassinari, Director/Legal Counsel Elections Division, Secretary of State Office; Lauren Goldberg, Member & Managing Attorney – KP Law; Alex Foreman, Director of Vital Records Registration and Amendments Unit. Michelle reviewed UOCOVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) voting process and provided new updates. Lauren reviewed the process of adopting and amending charters under the Home Rule Petition Process (special legislation) and the Home Rule Procedures Act and for requesting special legislation. Alex reviewed how to process online Death Amendments, Out of Commonwealth Births and Home Births. 2018 Primary & State Election Preparation – Presented by presented by Michelle Tassinari, Director/Legal Counsel, and Elections Division-Secretary of State’s Office. Michelle discussed the preparation and administration for the upcoming 2018 State Primary and Election. Other topics discussed were Early Voting, Inactive Voters, Absentee Voting and Provisional Ballots. Planning & Zoning Workshop– Presented by Brian A. Currie, AICP, Retired Falmouth Town Planner, Citizen Planner Training Collaborative Instructor. This class covered the Zoning Act, Chapter 40A, Municipal Planning & Subdivision Control Laws, Filing of Special Permits and Variances, Site Review Plans, Adopting and Amending Zoning Bylaws and what the role of the Clerk is in regards to filing in our office. Through the Lens of the Municipal Archivist – Presented by Daniel McCormack, CA, Archivist for the Town of Burlington. In this class we focused on the business side of archives and proper records management in a municipality. We were also lead through the process of adapting the retention schedules for individual town’s use. We learned that different perspectives on the idea of “enduring value” forces departments to adjust and adapt the schedules to serve different legal, fiscal, and administrative needs. All classes were very informative and helpful. I look forward to implementing what I have learned to increase the proficiency of our office.

DOG LICENSES
All dog licenses were due and payable by April 1st. A $15.00 late fee was assessed for any licenses that were not renewed by June 1st. We still have 157 dogs that are unlicensed for this year. A non-criminal citation with an additional charge of $25.00 will be issued for any dogs that are not licensed by July 15th, so please, come in and license your dogs to avoid any further late charges. If your dog has a valid rabies vaccine, you may also register your dog online at https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothgovsvcs 24/7. Thanks so much.

STREET LISTINGS
We received the first shipment of the Annual Street Listings based on the 2018 Census data we gathered this year. If you would like a copy, there is a $15.00 charge. You may purchase at town hall or online at https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothgovsvcs and click on Street Listings.

2017 ANNUAL REPORTS
The printed 2017 Annual Reports should be arriving at Town Hall shortly. If you would like to view electronically, the annual report is available on the Town’s website @
https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/sites/rehobothma/files/uploads/2017_annual_report_document-final-4.pdf.
I will alert via Town website along with e-mails to those who enrolled in the Town’s e-mail subscribers when the 2017 Annual Reports have arrived. To register for e-mail notifications, please go to: https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/subscribe and subscribe ~ Thank you.

BUSINESS CERTIFICATES
Business owners are reminded that the application fee for a business certificate and/or business certificate renewal is $50.00 and that your certificate is valid for four years. New business owners must first go to Building Inspector/Zoning Officer, to complete a sign off sheet and then to the Town Clerk’s Office as your final step to be issued a Business Certificate. Information and forms are on the Town Clerk’s website:
http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/business-certificates

CAMP RAMSBOTTOM – POOL RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
Selectman Schwall and I attended the Sunday, June 24th ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly refurbished Barlow Aquatic Center. What an amazing facility we have here in Rehoboth!!! If you have never visited Camp Ramsbottom, please consider stopping by for a quick tour of the facility. Thanks to the generosity of Edward “Ned” Barlow and the Friends and Benefactors of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket and Camp Ramsbottom, the beautiful Aqcuatic Center was opened after the ribbon cutting ceremony. Below please find a photo of the Barlow family and James Hoyt, Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket’s CEO after the unveiling of the new Aquatic Center sign.

THANK YOU ~ REPRESENTATIVE HOWITT
Thank you to all who have reached out to share your thoughts and good wishes regarding my recent visit to the State House, where I received the 2018 Unsung Heroine Award from the Massachusetts Status of Women for public leadership and volunteerism. It was wonderful to share the afternoon with my fellow award recipients and I thank State Representative Steve Howitt for his nomination. I am truly honored and humbled with this award, and look forward to many more years of service and volunteering in this great community.

In closing, Lynn and I wish you all a wonderful 4th of July and a happy, healthy, safe, and memorable summer! I look forward to chatting with you again in August.

Sincerely,
Laura & Lynn