From the Town Clerk...

Hello All ~ Happy March!  Hope you have been keeping warm and are finally able to dig out from our record snowstorm.  Thank you everyone involved in clearing our streets, driveways and sidewalks.  The Rehoboth Town Clerk’s Office has been busy processing over 6,000 town census forms, 1,058 dog-tags/licenses, certifying election nomination papers for Town and State officials, and submitting FY 2027 budgets, while also preparing for the upcoming April 7, 2026 Annual Town Election (ATE) including sending off the ATE ballot to be printed. 

Happy 3^rd  Anniversary Kerrie Perkins and Jennifer Hose - Rehoboth Town Clerk’s Office

Speaking of the Town Clerk’s Office, please join me in congratulating Kerrie Perkins, Assistant Town Clerk and Jennifer Hose, Assistant Town Clerk, who began working for the Town on February 13, 2023.  Both Kerrie and Jenn bring a wealth of experience to the Town Clerk’s Office and have been absolutely wonderful in assisting the residents and voters of Rehoboth.  Personally speaking, Jenn and Kerrie have been awesome to work with.  We have a great team in the Clerk’s Office and I am thankful they both decided to work for the Town of Rehoboth.  Congratulations ladies on your third anniversary ~ we look forward to many more!

2026 Census Mailer

To those of you submitting your census documents and for registering your dog(s) so promptly ~ thank you.  We mailed 6,022 census forms in January and received and processed 4,971 households to date; which is up from 168 more than last year.  We are still looking for 1,051 census forms to be returned (Precinct 1=278; Precinct 2=266; Precinct 3=246 and Precinct 4=261).  If you did not send in your 2026 census, please forward it as soon as possible.  A second mailing went out this month to those residents for whom we do not have phone numbers listed on their census reports and our Registrars, Helene, Tina and Jenn, are calling the remaining residents that have listed phone numbers this month.  Census forms were due January 31^st and Dog Licenses will be due by April 1^st.  Also, anyone wishing a second 2026 calendar, please either stop by town hall and pick up your copy or let us know, we do have a few extras and can mail to you if you would like.

Upcoming Seekonk-Rehoboth Rabies Clinic – Saturday, March 14, 2026

Seekonk has graciously offered to hold another Joint Town Rabies Clinic at their Public Safety Building (Fire Division), which is located off of Route 44 by the blinking yellow light:  500 Taunton Avenue, Seekonk, MA.  The clinic will open at 9:00AM and close at 12:00-Noon on Saturday, March 14, 2026.  The Rabies clinic is open to non-residents and Rehoboth or Seekonk animal owners. Rabies Fee is $15 per animal – Cash only accepted for vaccinations.  Cats and ferrets must be in a secured carrier, dogs on leashes. For MA and RI animal owners, in order to be issued a MA three-year Rabies certificate you must bring your previous MA or RI three-year Rabies certificate from your veterinarian or clinic. A one-year vaccination certificate will be issued if you do not have your current rabies certificate.  The clinic is open to dogs, cats, and ferrets.  Dr. Truesdale from Central Ave Veterinary Hospital will be administering the vaccinations.  Proceeds will benefit the Seekonk Animal Control Department.  The Rehoboth Town Clerk’s Office will be there to renew your dog’s 2026 Dog License.  We accept, Cash, Check or Credit Card/EFT payments.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Rehoboth Town Clerk’s Office at 508-252-6502 X-3109, 3112, or 3110.  We look forward to seeing you, your dogs, and cats.  Thank you for keeping our pets safe by having them inoculated.

DOG LICENSES FOR 2026

2026 Dog Licenses are now available and may be obtained in-person, by mail, online at https://permiteyes.us/rehoboth/publichome.php for renewal licenses OR for a newly registered dog(s), which we do not have on file, please contact our office.  You may also drop off your dog licensing documents at the Town Hall drop box (340 Anawan Street). An application for dog license renewal was included in your 2026 Census mailer and directions for using the new Online Dog License program @ https://www.rehobothma.gov/town-clerk/pages/dog-licenses or contact our office – 508-252-6502 X-3109 or X-3112.  The licensing fees are as follows:  Male or female dog $20.00, female-spayed or male-neutered $10.00.  If paying by check, please make sure it is made payable to “Town of Rehoboth”.   Dog licenses are due annually by April 1^st.  Whether renewing online, via mail, drop box, or in person, dog license applications must be accompanied by a current year rabies certificate (with a vaccination date covering the current licensing year-May 1^st or later) and proof of spay or neuter [if applying for the $10 licensing fee] unless we already have your documentation on file in the Clerk’s Office.  If you are unsure, please give the office a call, and we can tell you how up-to-date our information is.  Dog owners should note that the license(s) to be mailed must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope (the current postage is 74¢ for one dog tag, $1.03 for two or three dog tags and $1.32 for four tags).  As of this writing, we have processed 1,058 of the 2,000+ dog licenses, which is 143 more than last year at this time ~ thank you all for submitting so quickly and if you have not registered your dog, please do so prior to the April 1^st deadline ~ thank you. 

Reminder, all residents 70-years old or over do not need to pay the $10 or $20 yearly dog licensing fee. I submitted an article at the May 8, 2017 Annual Town Meeting (Article 15) requesting Town Meeting vote to accept MGL CHAPTER 140 SECTION 139(c), which states “No fee shall be charged for a license issued under this section for a service animal as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act or regulations promulgated thereunder. No fee shall be charged for a license for a dog owned by a person aged 70 years or over in a city or town that accepts this provision”.  Town meeting did approve the acceptance of MGL Chapter 140 Section 139 (c), which permits the Town Clerk’s Office to waive dog licensing fees for service animals and for dogs owned by any Rehoboth resident 70 years of age and older.  Proof of rabies vaccinations for each dog and proof of the dog owner’s age (70 or older) is required.  As per Town Counsel, this does not include Kennel Fees.

THE ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION

The Annual Town Election for the Town of Rehoboth will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, with the polls open from 7 AM to 8 PM – Polling Location for all four precincts is Francis Farm Community Center (27 Francis Farm Road) – Heritage Meeting Hall, formerly known as the Museum building.  If you would like to review the facility and layout of the polling location, please visit the Town Website at:  https://www.rehobothma.gov/home/news/rehoboth-changes-its-centralized-polling-location-francis-farm-community-center-museum  Additional details will be communicated as we get closer to the election.  As always, the Town website will have updated polling information when available.

Town Nomination papers have been returned and certified.  The following Positions to be elected on the ballot for 2026 are Moderator (one for 1 year), Board of Selectmen (two positions for 3 years), Assessor (one for 3 years), Constable (one for 3 years) School Committee (two for 3 years), Housing Authority (one for 5 years), Planning Board (one for 5 years), Park Commission (one for 5 years), and Water Commissioner (two for 3 years).

As of now, it appears we will have one contested race (3-year term D-R School Committee).  The Democratic Town Committee nominated:  Bill Cute-Moderator for re-election, Lori Beth Lesniak-D-R Regional School Committee and Paul Jacques-re-election-Housing Authority.  The Republican Town Committee nominated:  Rob Johnson and Lenny Mills-re-election-2-Selectman positions, Ricardo Binetti-re-election Assessor, Lisa Halajko-Park Commission, Patrick Landry-re-election-Planning Board, Patricia (Tish) Vadnais-re-election Water Commission along with endorsing Katie Eyer for re-election to the second Water Commissioner position. The Republican Town Committee also endorsed Aaron Morse for D-R School Committee.  Finally, our office certified nomination papers received from Aaron Morse-D-R School Committee-3-year and Katie Eyer-3-year-Water Commission.  As mentioned above; both endorsed by the Republican Town Committee.

The final voter registration date, to be eligible to vote in the Annual Town Election, is scheduled for Saturday, March 28^th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Prospective voters are reminded that they may also register to vote online at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com , by calling the Town Clerk’s Office to request a Mail-In Voter Registration Form, or download a form @

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf

Registration forms are also available at the Post Office, Blanding Library and Francis Farm COA. 

Do you need a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the Annual Town Election?  If so, please complete a Vote-by-Mail application @ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/vote-by-mail-applications/Vote-by-Mail-Paper-Application-2025.pdf or stop by the Town Clerk’s office to receive a copy of the application. 

Finally, if you have any questions on any of the above items discussed, please feel free to contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-252-6502, X3109, X3112 or X3110.  Kerrie, Jenn and I wish all residents a Happy St. Patrick’s Day and we hope to see many of you at the upcoming March 14, 2026 Rabies Clinic and April 7, 2026 Annual Town Election – details above.  Please keep warm and safe.  I look forward to speaking with you in April.  Please mark your calendars to vote at the April 7^th Election at Francis Farm; Town Meeting will be June 2^nd .  Thank you ~ please stay well!

Laura