From the Clerk's Office

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 Friday, November 1^st. 

11-05-2024 State & Presidential Election
By the time you receive the November Reporter, the election will be over, and we will know who will serve as our new President; as well as the outcome of other important races.  Unofficial results for all races will be posted to the Town website after the votes are tallied on election day, and I will report on the official results in the December issue, once the election is certified (November 20, 2024) and forwarded to the Secretary of State. However, in this issue I would like to thank my wonderful Town Clerk Staff (Kerrie & Jenn) and Election Workers who have all put in long days/nights and weekends over the last few weeks in the administration of the election.  Thank you all – we could not have done it without your help!

Suzanne Withers – Rehoboth Town Clerk
As many of you already know, unfortunately Suzanne Withers passed away on September 30^th.  A Celebration of Life service was held on October 26^th; however, due to In-Person Early Voting I was personally unable to attend.  I know Suzanne would understand why I wasn’t there, but I would like Suzanne’s family, friends and residents to know what Suzanne meant to me and what she has done for the Town. 

Suzanne Withers, is most likely remembered for her 22+ years of service to the Town of Rehoboth as Town Clerk; however, Suzanne did so much more for the Town and she was also a Mayflower Descendant.  Suzanne served as Rehoboth’s Town Clerk from 1975 to September of 1998.  She served during a time when Rehoboth was much smaller and Suzanne knew almost every person by name!!  When our family first moved to Rehoboth, back in 1998, Suzanne was one of the first Rehoboth residents we met.  Suzanne greeted our family with a smile and the comment . . . “you must be new here”.  That was part of the charm of Suzanne and the Town of Rehoboth. 

Suzanne served Rehoboth in many ways over the years beginning as an Elected School Committee member from 1969-1976, Publicity Communication Chairman of the 325^th Anniversary Committee, Assistant Town Clerk from 1975-1976, Police Matron from 1983-1987, member of the Computer Committee from 1984-1999, served as an Elected member of the Board of Selectmen from 1986-1988, from 1988-1990 was appointed to the Charter Study Committee, 1992-1995 Grants Committee, from 1996-2000 Suzanne served as the Elected Clerk of the Water District, Suzanne also served from 1999-2001 on the Master Plan Steering Committee.  When Suzanne retired in 1998, the Town was fortunate that Suzanne was appointed as an Acting Town Clerk for Election Day on 4/1/2002 and then an Election Inspector and Deputy Warden from 2000-2017 where Suzanne took a brief leave as an Election Worker to serve as a Registrar of Voters in 2007 but returned to her Election Inspector/Deputy Warden in 2008.  After Ms. Withers’ retirement as Town Clerk, she also served on the 32B Insurance Advisory Board (2002-2020), Library Study Committee (2004-2007) and the Personnel Board (2011-2014). 

I also had the pleasure of working with Suzanne while we both served as Trustees of the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society, which operates the Carpenter Museum, Blanding Library and Goff Memorial Hall.  Suzanne is the reason I decided to become a Certified Municipal Clerk and Internationally Certified Municipal Clerk.  Suzanne said when I took the position of Town Clerk – “you MUST get Certified – you get so much out of the classes, and you make forever bonds with other Clerks in Massachusetts”.  Suzanne was right.  Suzanne was a wealth of information and I requested many times that she think about writing a book about Rehoboth.  I wish she had.  Suzanne will be sincerely missed; however, her legacy and beautiful signature on many Town documents will live on for future generations to enjoy.  My thoughts and prayers are with the Withers family during this difficult time.

2024 Dog License Reminders
Out of 2,350 dogs in Rehoboth, we currently have 369 license renewals outstanding.  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! 

Town Offices Closed
Just a reminder, Town Offices will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2024 to observe Veteran’s Day and Thursday, November 28^th for Thanksgiving Day.  In addition to Thanksgiving Day, Town Offices will close at noon on Wednesday, November 27^th and remain closed on Friday, November 29^th, the day after Thanksgiving.

Please Thank A Veteran
Please take a moment on Veteran’s Day (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