From the Clerk's Office

Hello All ~ I hope you are enjoying the beautiful Fall weather in Rehoboth!  Speaking of the Fall, I would like to remind all town residents that Town Offices will be closed on Monday, October 14^th for Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  Also, on Friday, November 1^st, quarterly real estate taxes are due.  Final reminder, In-Person Early Voting begins Saturday, October 19^th and runs through Friday, November 1^st (No Sunday voting hours).  More on the 11-5-2024 State and Presidential Election voting below.  Thank you.

Monday – September 30, 2024  ~ Special Town Meeting

Thank you Rehoboth Reporter for allowing me to submit my article a little later to include the results of the Monday, September 30, 2024 Special Town Meeting.  Below is a summary of the Articles as voted at Town Meeting.

Thank you all who were involved in the Codification Process and thank you Rehoboth voters for approving the renumbering and reordering of the bylaws at the June Annual Town Meeting and the grammatical, statute and outdated bylaw changes made at the September Special Town Meeting.  If you ever tried to find something in our current bylaws, it is very difficult unless you know the exact terms and use a “search.”  Now Rehoboth residents can use our bylaws in a comprehensive, up-to-date and understandable format 24/7. Rehoboth staff can gather the information they need to answer questions from both citizens and town officials more easily. All this will improve transparency within our community while accurately reflecting our existing laws in an understandable format.  The newly codified bylaws, soon to be approved by the Attorney General’s Office (within 90-days), will serve as a wonderful tool we all can use to make “Town Government” more accessible and transparent for all residents and voters!  Thank you all for making the codification of our bylaws possible!! As soon as the Attorney General’s Office approves the 9-30-2024 bylaw changes, we will post the new e360 Codified Bylaws on the Town Website for all to view.  We hope to hear from the AG’s office sometime in December.  I will keep you posted.  Thank you!

Upcoming 11-5-2024 State & Presidential Election Information

In-Person Early Voting Begins – Saturday, October 19, 2024 and ends Friday, November 1, 2024

Rehoboth’s Designated In-Person Early Voting Location

Francis Farm Community Complex – Museum Building

27 Francis Farm Road, Rehoboth, MA  02769

Rehoboth’s In-Person Early Voting Hours

Last Day to Register to Vote for the 11-5-2024 State & Presidential Election: Saturday, October 26, 2024 – 9AM-5PM

Vote-By-Mail and Absentee Voting

Deadlines to Apply for an Absentee or Early Vote by Mail Ballot

Applications for ballots to be mailed to a voter must be received by the Town Clerk by 5PM on the 5th business day before an election (October 29^th @ 5:00 PM).  We recommend applying earlier than the deadline as the US Postal delivery services are not consistent and can range from 3 to 11 days.  

Deadlines for Ballots to be Returned and Counted: 

Presidential & State Election (November 5, 2024):

• Ballots returned in the secure ballot drop box (340 Anawan Street) must be received by 8PM on November 5th
• Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by November 5th AND receivedby the Town Clerk by 5PM on November 8th

Please note that US Postal delivery services, outside of Rehoboth, are not consistent and can range from 3 to 11 days.  We recommend voters return their ballots in the drop box outside of the town offices by the close of polls on Election Day to ensure it is counted.

Track your Mailed Ballot - You can track your mailed ballot request at:  (https://www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA/TrackMyBallot ) to see if the Town Clerk's Office has received and processed your application. You are able to see when a ballot was sent to you and when the returned ballot has been recorded as received in the Office of the Town Clerk. 

NOTE:  If voting by mail please remember to enclose your ballot in the inner brown envelope and SIGN the front of the brown envelope.  By law we cannot accept your ballot unless you process, SIGN, and return your voted ballot as specified in the instructions that accompany your mailed ballot.  Thank you all for voting!

In-Person Election Day Voting – Tuesday, November 5, 2024 – 7AM-8PM –

Francis Farm Museum Building – 27 Francis Farm Road

If you prefer to vote In-Person on Election Day, please join us at the Francis Farm Community Complex – Museum Building (27 Francis Farm Road) – polls open at 7:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM.  Sample Ballots are available at:  https://www.rehobothma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4911/f/uploads/11-5-2024-sampleballot-rehoboth.pdf If you would like a detailed explanation of the questions on the 11-5-2024 Ballot, please view at:  https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/research-and-statistics/IFV_2024.pdf .

Whether you vote In-Person Early, Vote-by-Mail, Absentee or In-Person on Election Day, please vote your preference and have a voice in the future of our country.  As Franklin D. Roosevelt is quoted, “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.” Please vote and have your voice heard.

2024 Dog License Update

To date we have registered 1,958 dogs, which is unfortunately 57 dogs less than last year.  The Animal Control Officer is finishing up his phone calls to delinquent dog owners before we will be required to send out the 2024 $25.00 non-criminal citations.  Currently we have 377 dogs that are unlicensed.  Please renew your dog’s license before we are required to send out the citations.  After several reminders from our office to dog owners (January Census mailer; reminder letters in March prior to the annual rabies clinic and April 1^st license renewal deadline; postcard reminders in May; monthly reminders in the Rehoboth Reporter since January, a 60-day grace period, and reminder phone calls from our Animal Control Officer in August-September), regrettably, for those dog owners who are still delinquent, in October they will be assessed another $25 non-criminal citations plus certified mailing costs to their $10/$20 dog license plus another $15 late fee.  A $10 dog license renewal is now $58.95.  For those dog owners who have not renewed their dog’s 2024 license, please renew 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, 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 or stop by to see us during regular work hours (Monday-Thursday 8-4; Friday 8-12 Noon). 

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.  Please license your dog as soon as possible to avoid further action involving the Animal Control Officer.  Yearly dog licensing ensures all dogs in Rehoboth have updated rabies vaccinations.  This process is in place to protect us all.

Marriage Intentions/Marriage Certificates

October is one of our busiest months for Marriage Intentions/Certificates in Rehoboth. Therefore, as a quick reminder of the process.  Both parties must come to Town Hall and complete a three-part packet (Marriage Intention, Marriage Supplement, and Marriage Worksheet).  Please look for the fillable PDFs and instructions included on the Town Clerk’s website:  https://www.rehobothma.gov/town-clerk/pages/marriage-licenses .  Please do not sign the documents until we can witness your signature in person.  We will also be making a photocopy of your driver’s license.  We ask, if possible, please make an appointment prior to coming to Town Hall (508-252-6502 – X3109 or X3112).  The parties must provide their social security number and mother’s maiden name.  Upon completion of the documents, there is a “State required” 3-day waiting period before the couple may pick up their marriage license.  The marriage intention/license is good for 60-days.  If you are not married within that timeframe, you must complete the process again.  The charge is $20 for the Marriage Intention and $10 for the Marriage Certificate.  Note:  If you are using an officiant from another state (Rhode Island for example), your officiant must obtain a one-day solemnization certificate from the Secretary of State’s office prior to your wedding day.  The application can be found on the Secretary of State’s website:

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OneDayWeb/External/Welcome.aspx , the Rehoboth Town Clerk’s website https://www.rehobothma.gov/town-clerk/pages/marriage-licenses, or we have copies at Town Hall.

In closing, please stay healthy and safe and have a wonderful October.  We look forward to seeing you at In-Person Early Voting between October 19^th-November 1^st.  Jenn, Kerrie and I wish you all a safe and healthy Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Halloween!  We wish you all a wonderful October.  I look forward to chatting with you in November.  Please stay healthy and safe

Sincerely,

Laura