From the Seekonk Town Clerk’s Office

Posted Tuesday, July 9, 2024 11:51 am

Summer officially arrived on June 20^th. We would like to wish all students a fun-filled and safe summer vacation. We can’t believe we are already celebrating the 4^th of July. Happy Independence Day to all of you!

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, the Town held the installation of Fire Chief Shaun Whalen. It was a very nice ceremony wherein he received two citations; 1) District Director Louis Loura, from Marc Pacheco’s Office presented a Senate Citation; and 2) Representative Steven Howitt, from the 4^th Bristol District, also presented a citation. Thank you to all those who attended in support of Fire Chief Whalen.

Dispatch Emergency Specialist, Nicholas Rondeau, was presented with the Massachusetts Telecommunicator Awards for being a part the 2023 Team of the Year for their professionalism and dedication during a critical time of need on December 15, 2023. The team demonstrated extraordinary solidarity and support for their fellow dispatchers.

We would also like to offer our Congratulations the Seekonk High School Baseball team, Coach DeMelo, and his coaching staff for their second MIAA Division 4 State Championship.

Reminders from the Tax Collector’s Office:
Fiscal Year 2024 disposal bills were due October 19, 2023. If you have not paid the disposal fee, please contact the Collector’s Office at (508) 336-2930 for the up-to-date balance.

Fiscal Year 2025 Preliminary Bills will be mailed the first week of July, the first quarter will be due August 1, 2024 and the second on November 1, 2024.

Reminders from the Town Clerk’s Office
All dog licenses were due on April 1^st and the 60-day grace period has ended. A late fee of $20 will be added to the license fees as follows: $10.00 for spayed/neutered dogs and $20.00 for un-spayed/un-neutered dogs. As a reminder, license fees are waived for residents 70 years of age or older. However, you still need to apply for the license and show the dog is current on their rabies vaccine.

If you have not returned your census, please return it to the Town Clerk’s Office as soon as possible. As per MGL Ch. 51, Section 4(c), failure to respond to census mailings for two consecutive years will result in the removal from the active voting list. In June, we mailed 3,282 voter confirmation cards to reinstate those voters who did not return their 2024 Census. If you have received one of these cards, please complete, sign, and return it to our office so we can reactive your voting status. If you are unsure of your voter status, please do not hesitate to call our office at 508-336-2920 or email us at townclerk@seekonk-ma.gov. You can also visit the Secretary of State’s website to update your registration status, address, party information, name, and/or register to vote at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/.

If you would like to find out more information about the September 3^rd State Primary or the November 5^th State Elections, please visit https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/elections-and-voting.htm.

If you would like to receive a Vote by Mail application, please complete the form online under the Town Clerk’s webpage or visit us at the Town Clerk’s Office. Please note if you are listed as UNENROLLED or NO PARTY for the State Primary, you must check the box for the party ballot you want mailed to you. If you are unenrolled and don’t check a party box you will not be sent a ballot.

If you already received a “I Want to Vote” postcard from the State in January 2024, please do not fill out another Vote by Mail application. You will receive your ballots in the mail for the September 3^rd and November 5^th elections.

Other Town News
Lorraine and I were fortunate to attend the Massachusetts Town Clerk’s Association (MTCA) Summer Conference for a three-day workshop. where we were able to meet many other Town Clerk’s, Assistant Town Clerks, and State Officials. The classes will help us better prepare us for the upcoming elections, public records requests, and how to prepare for a recount/audit.

Please check back with us in the Reporter’s August edition with more upcoming election information which will include early voting dates and times. In the meantime, we hope you have a wonderful July.

~Kristen and Lorraine