Rehoboth Town Clerk September 2024

Posted Thursday, September 5, 2024 1:54 pm

Hello All – Another month has quickly flown by. I hope you have been enjoying your summer and staying healthy and safe. As the summer draws to a close, I also hope you had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend!

September 3, 2024 – State Primary Election Results
Thanks to the generosity of the Rehoboth Reporter, they delayed the submission of my article so we could include the Tuesday, September 3, 2024 State Primary Election “Unofficial” results. The results appear below and on the front page of the Town Website: https://www.rehobothma.gov/ - Official results will be posted when election is certified (Saturday, September 7, 2024).

Rehoboth Election Totals

Total Ballots: 1535

Democratic Ballots: 814

Republican Ballots: 716

Libertarian Ballots: 5

Republican Ballot

Senator in Congress: John Deaton

Senator in General Court: Kelly A. Dooner

Representative in General Court: Steven S. Howitt

Democratic Ballot

Senator in Congress: Elizabeth Ann Warren

Representative in Congress: Jake Auchincloss

Councillor: Joseph C. Ferreira

Senator in General Court: Joeseph Richard Pacheco

Clerk of Courts: Jennifer A. Sullivan

County Commissioner (2): John R. Mitchell & Julie Katherine Ruggiero

2024 DOG TAGS – NOW PAST DUE
I am pleased we have registered 1,928 dogs so far this year, unfortunately, we still have 388 dogs that remain unlicensed. 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, reminder phone calls from our Animal Control Officer (ACO) in August/September, unfortunately final reminder letters with an additional $25 citation fee plus certified mail charges will be sent to each dog owner when the ACO Office finishes the final reminder calls. A current $10 dog license (spayed/neutered) is now $25 to renew ($10 + $15 Late Fee); and will soon to be $60. Regrettably, if we do not receive payment for your dog’s 2024 Dog License Renewal by September 15^th, we will be required, by law, to start the non-criminal citation process, which will incur an additional fee of $25.00 or more, plus certified mailing costs resulting in a $10 dog license now being a minimum of $60.00. Please do not let this happen to you. 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 and you can always stop by our office to pay.

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. In addition to the above listed late fees, 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. Yearly dog licensing ensures all dogs in Rehoboth have updated rabies vaccinations. This process is in place to protect us all.

2024 STREET LISTINGS ARE AVAILABLE
If you would like a copy of the 2024 Street Listings, there is a charge of $15.00. Please feel free to stop by town hall and pick up your copy, while supplies last. You may order one online @ https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothgovsvcs; request a copy by mail, drop box outside of Town Hall-340 Anawan Street or visit us at the Clerk’s Office. If paying by check, please make your check payable to: The Town of Rehoboth ~ thank you.

UPCOMING FALL TOWN MEETING – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
At the July 29, 2024 Board of Selectmen Meeting, it was voted to hold the Fall Town Meeting on MONDAY, September 30, 2024. This year’s meeting is scheduled to be held at Francis Farm, FRANCIS HALL/COA/SENIOR CENTER Building; not the Museum Building, which will be set up for the Early Voting and the Presidential Election. The Board of Selectmen approved and sent the 9-30-2024 Fall Town Meeting warrant to the printer and you should receive your copy in the mail shortly. The Board of Selectmen will also be posting a copy of the warrant on their website @ https://www.rehobothma.gov/town-administrator-board-selectmen/pages/town-meeting-warrants . We hope to see you at the upcoming Fall Town Meeting.

GENERAL CODE – BYLAW CODIFICATION UPDATE
As you know, Rehoboth is in the process of codifying our bylaws through General Code. This is a process of making our bylaws more easily accessible to everyone. The reordering of our bylaws took place at the June 4, 2024 Annual Town Meeting and we are awaiting the Attorney General’s approval on that update. As you know, the Board of Selectmen deferred the changes suggested by General Code, Department Heads, Board and Committee Chairs until the 9-30-2024 Fall Town Meeting. If you would like to review the project documents, please go to: https://www.rehobothma.gov/home/news/2024-rehoboth-codification-project . We are looking forward to having our bylaws presented in a comprehensive, up-to-date and understandable format. All this will improve transparency within our community while accurately reflecting our existing laws in an understandable format. An additional benefit is the bylaws will be available to be searched from the comfort of your home and accessible 24/7 for all resident to use. Thank you all.

In closing, Jenn, Kerrie and I wish you all a safe, happy, most enjoyable September. Good luck to those students, teachers and administrators beginning the 2024-2025 school year. We hope all Rehoboth residents stay healthy and safe. Please enjoy the beautiful fall weather that should be coming soon.

Thank You ~ Laura