From the Town Clerk

Hello All ~ Happy May! – The Spring flowers are here, birds are back, and the leaves have popped ~ thank goodness Spring has arrived!   If it is May, it must be Tax Day . . . as a reminder, quarterly taxes were due Wednesday, May 1^st ~ thank you.

ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION ~ THANK YOU!!!  ~  

THANK YOU ALL ELECTION WORKERS, REGISTRARS, POLICE, FIRE, HIGHWAY, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS, CONSTABLES, ELECTION EQUIPMENT STAFF, REHOBOTH POST OFFICE STAFF, POTTY-JOHN, TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE STAFF & VOTERS
Thank you, Rehoboth Reporter, for delaying the printing of the April Reporter to include the 4-2-24 Unofficial Election results.  For official results, please check the town website under the Town Clerk’s 4-2-24 Election Results webpage @ https://www.rehobothma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4911/f/news/tally-ate-4-2-2024-official-rehoboth-with-w-iauxprovisional-4-5-2024.pdf or view under news and announcements @ https://www.rehobothma.gov/home/news/4-2-2024-annual-town-election-official-certified-election-results .  Congratulations to all elected candidates.  Thank you to all candidates who ran in the April 2, 2024 Annual Town Election!!  Reminder:  If you were elected or re-elected to a position and have not been sworn into office, please stop by the Town Clerk’s Office to take your oath of office.  No elected or appointed official may take any action until they officially take their oath after being elected or appointed ~ thank you!  I would personally like to thank the many people who participated in our April 2, 2024 Annual Town Election and for helping us make sure the election ran smoothly.  From the Wardens, Clerks, Inspectors, Constables, Police, Fire, Highway & Facilities Management Departments, Registrars, Set-Up/Take-Down Crew, Rehoboth Post Office and Town Clerk staff, we were able to hold another successful election in our wonderful, centralized polling location in the Francis Farm Museum Building.  Thank you for all your hard work.  There is no way we could have an election without the wonderful help of you all ~ thank you for all you do for so many!  Thank you also to Sara and Billy for the delicious Vinos meals.  Thank you all for your support, time, dedication, and true passion of assuring our elections are run safely, professionally, securely, and expeditiously.  The Town of Rehoboth is truly fortunate to have the entire Election staff working on their behalf.  Finally, thank you to the 1,676 (15.59%) of 10,752 voters who voted in the 4-2-2024 Annual Town Election! 

ELECTION WORKERS NEEDED
Unfortunately, due to the passing of a number of our election workers and several other election workers needing to take a leave from their inspector positions, or who moved out of town, the Town of Rehoboth finds itself looking for additional election workers.  Are you interested in learning how to become an election inspector and joining the team on Election Day?  We have a lovely group of individuals who help run our elections; we would love to add you to our team.  To learn more about becoming an election worker, please either call our office to discuss 508-252-6502 or visit the Town Clerk’s website @ www.RehobothMA.gov “Election Worker Training”; direct link @ https://www.rehobothma.gov/town-clerk/pages/election-worker-training-resources  If you are interested, please complete a Talent Bank Form located in the front foyer at Town Hall (340 Anawan Street) or direct website link to a fillable PDF at  https://www.rehobothma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4911/f/uploads/tor_talent_bank_form_2023.pdf  .  Please send completed talent bank form to Town Hall – 340 Anawan Street, Rehoboth.  We look forward to working with you in the near future.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ABSENTEE VS. VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT APPLICATIONS
As we noticed in the Town Clerk’s Office during the past two 2024 elections, there seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the absentee and/or vote-by-mail application process.  Below are a few facts to keep in mind, especially for the upcoming Elections (September 3, 2024 State Primary and November 5, 2024 Presidential/State Elections). 

• Voters are required to file a new mailed ballot application request every calendar year.  In January of each year, you may request all ballots be mailed to you for all elections scheduled from January – December of the current year by completing an Absentee or Vote-By-Mail ballot application. 
• Absentee Ballot Application (Must qualify – see qualifications below*) Application @

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/absentee-ballot-applications/Absentee-Ballot-Application-English.pdf 

*You can vote by absentee ballot if you qualify:

• You will be away from your city or town on Election Day
• You have a religious belief that prevents you from voting at your polling location on Election Day
• You have a disability that prevents you from voting at your polling location

OR you can Vote by Mail:

• Vote by Mail Ballot Application (No excuse voting – all other voters) Application @

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/vote-by-mail-applications/vote-by-mail-paper-application-2023.pdf

• Please Note:  If you choose “All Elections” on your vote-by-mail or absentee application, and you are registered as an unenrolled/independent voter (an unenrolled voter is also known as “independent”; Massachusetts does not have a “independent” party) or registered in any party/political designation other than Democrat, Republican or Libertarian, you will need to identify on your ballot application what “Party” ballot you are requesting for any Primary Election.  Your choices in 2024 will be Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian.  If you are registered as a Democrat, Republican or Libertarian, you can only select your party ballot during a primary election.  All Unenrolled (Independent) voters are required to select the ballot type they would like mailed:  Democrat, Republican, Libertarian.  Please do not leave the “Primary Ballot” preference section blank.  Also, please remember to sign both your application and your ballot envelope when you return your completed ballot.  We are required by law to reject any applications or returned ballot envelops without the voter’s signature ~ thank you. 
• Please Note Also . . . the Elections Division will be mailing Vote by Mail applications (postcards) at least 45 days before every regular state primary, state election, and presidential primary. As per Massachusetts Law, the vote-by-mail postcard applications will be sent to everyone registered to vote by the 60th day before the election who has not already applied for a vote-by-mail ballot. The applications will be pre-addressed to the local election office and postage pre-paid. If you applied for a vote-by-mail ballot in 2024, either via the census application, online application, paper application or State postcard application and did not select “All Elections”, or individual elections: 9/3 State Primary or 11/5 Presidential/State Election, please know that the State will be sending another round of vote-by-mail (VBM) postcards to you in July for the Primary and again in September for the State/Presidential Election in November. Please do not blame the Clerk’s Office for the multiple vote-by-mail ballot applications, it is a requirement of the law and as mentioned above sent by the Secretary of the Commonwealth – Elections Division.  Thank you for voting in the upcoming September 3^rd and November 5^th Elections!

JUNE 4^th (Tuesday) ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
As you may remember from last year’s Town Meeting, the Town voted to move the Annual Town Meeting from the second Tuesday in May to the first Tuesday of June; therefore, our upcoming Town Meeting will be held on June 4, 2024 at the Francis Farm Community Complex – Museum Building, 27-Francis Farm Road.  Voter check-in will begin at 6:00 PM; Town Meeting will begin at 7:00 PM. 

If you have any news you would like the Moderator to share with Town Meeting on June 4^th, please send to LSchwall@RehobothMA.gov ~ thank you.

The last day for Voter Registration, to be eligible to participate in the Annual Town Meeting, will be Saturday, May 25, 2024. The Town Clerk’s Office is available from 8:00AM to 5:00PM on May 25^th to accommodate last-minute registrations.  As always, if you would like to register to vote, or change your party affiliation, you may go to the Secretary of State’s Election Division any time, 24/7, by going to  www.RegisterToVoteMA.com and complete the voter registration form online.  However, if you were not registered by Saturday, May 25, 2024, you will not be able to vote in the June 4, 2024 Annual Town Meeting.  If you would like to check your voter status (active or inactive), you may also go to:   https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx and see if your registration is active along with what precinct you vote in. 

EXCITING NEWS – NEW BYLAW CODIFICATION – READY FOR TOWN MEETING VOTE
I am truly excited to report that after a year working with General Code, Rehoboth Boards/Committees/Commissions and department heads, Rehoboth’s antiquated paper bylaws are now available online, and in paper format, in an easily searchable format for all residents to use.  Back on May 15, 2023 the Board of Selectmen signed an Agreement with General Code to codify Rehoboth’s bylaws.  The expense for this project was paid with ARPA Funds; therefore, there is no cost to the Town.  Thank you all involved with the Codification process and I would like to especially thank, Dr. Richard Panofsky, who has been my partner throughout the entire codification process and extremely helpful in bringing this project to a successful completion.  Richard, I appreciate your dedication to the project and your many hours of meetings, reviewing and bettering the appearance of our Town bylaws!!! 

What does “codification of our bylaws” mean?  Oxford defines “cod·i·fi·ca·tion” as “the action or process of arranging laws or rules according to a system or plan”.  If you ever tried to search our bylaws online, it is very difficult and frustrating to locate what you are looking for unless you have the exact term detailed in our current bylaws.  Good things are coming our way!!  General Code was contracted to undertake a complete review of our bylaws to ensure that they do not contain inconsistencies, errors or outdated information that could potentially affect enforceability and alignment with relevant state statutes.  Rehoboth residents will be able to find and use our bylaws in a comprehensive, up-to-date and understandable format.  Rehoboth staff will be able to gather the information they need to answer questions from both citizens and municipal officials more easily.  The new code/bylaws will also improve transparency within our community while accurately reflecting our laws in an understandable format.

The codification process consisted of four review sessions between General Code, Town department heads and Committee/Board/Commission Chairs (or their designees), prior to Town Meeting approval of the new codification. 

• Step 1 – Organizational Analysis with Reorganization and Renumbering of the Code/Bylaws – May 2023-July 21, 2023 - The primary purpose of this Organizational Analysis is to establish the organization of the Town Code, to ensure that materials used to prepare the Code are accurate, complete and current; and to review the project scope and deliverables.  The proposed Table of Contents was reorganized and renumbered based on feedback received from Rehoboth staff and Boards/Committees/Commissions.
• Step 2 – Editorial and Legal Analysis with Manuscript – Within 50-days of the Town submitting the Organizational Analysis and Table of Contents, the document was organized into a logical system of chapters arranged in alphabetical order by subject matter based on feedback in step one.  At this phase of the project, General Code also prepared an Editorial and Legal Analysis of our bylaws/code. General Code provided the Town 191 questions, based on their review of our current bylaws for town officials, including Town Counsel, having final decision-making authority for the resolution of any and all issues detailed in the 191 question Editorial and Legal Analysis.  The 191 questions (Editorial/Legal Analysis) included the following:
• Identification of duplications, conflicts, and inconsistencies between or within various sections of the Code.
• Identification of duplications, conflicts, and inconsistencies with Massachusetts statutes.
• Any practical recommendations to make our legislation more enforceable.
• Suggestions regarding fines, fees, and penalties.
• Suggestions on ways to modernize our legislation.

All Town department heads, Board/Committee/Commission Chairs (or their designees) had 45-days to review and opine on the 191 General Code’s Editorial/Legal Analysis questions.  All comments by all respondents were recorded in the online version for all town officials to review all comments.  Once the document was completed by the January 8, 2024 deadline, the results were submitted to General Code for their incorporation into the “Preliminary Draft” – step three of the project.

• Step 3 – Preliminary Draft Review – Within 25-days of the Town’s submission above, General Code prepared a Preliminary Draft incorporating all the comments the subject matter experts reviewed and submitted their revisions if necessary.  At this time, Rehoboth had another 20-days to review and make any final changes before moving to the final step four – “Final Draft – Adoption at Town Meeting”.

• Step 4 – Final Draft Review for Adoption at Town Meeting – Within 20-days of the Town’s Preliminary Draft submission, General Code prepared the final draft, which was forwarded to the Town along with proposed warrant articles to be placed before Town Meeting on June 4, 2024.  As stated above, all department heads, Committee/Board/Commission Chairs (or their designees) have reviewed and opined on the codification upgrade along with Town Counsel’s review of both the General and Zoning bylaw upgrades.  One final review was made by all the participating individuals and public hearings were scheduled, as required by law, with Conservation (May 7, 2024) and Planning Board (May 15, 2024).  When the 6-4-2024 Annual Town Meeting Warrant is published, we will post a complete version of the 314-page Final Draft of Rehoboth’s eCode360 Codification along with a “Red-Lined” document of the changes that were made to our current bylaws for your review on the front page of the website under News and Announcements.  The same printed documents will be available for review at the Town Clerk’s Office, prior to Town Meeting vote, if you are unable to view online.

Thank you for your part in reviewing Rehoboth’s new codification process of our Town bylaws and I hope you will join me at Town Meeting to vote in Rehoboth’s updated – user friendly – searchable Town bylaws.  Once you have time to review the “blackline” codification warrant articles for the 6-4-2024 Annual Town Meeting, please do not hesitate to contact the Town Clerk’s Office with any questions prior to Town Meeting.  Thank you for your time and consideration of this wonderful tool for all to enjoy.  The General Code eCode360 Codification project is one more way we are trying to make “Town Government” more accessible and transparent for all residents and voters.

ANNUAL TOWN CENSUS UPDATES
The Rehoboth Annual Town Census reflects our current population total, which as of April 29, 2024 is “officially” 13,240.  That is an increase of 324 residents over last year’s “official” population figure of 12,916.  After calls to households from our Registrars, we still have 682 census forms, out of 5,858 forms that were mailed in January, which have not been returned (Precinct I = 162 non respondents; Precinct II = 180 non respondents, Precinct III = 168 and Precinct IV = 172 non respondents). Thank you to the 5,176 residents (88.36%) who have returned their 2024 Town Census forms.  For the remaining 11.64%, or 682 residents, please send in your census/street listing forms as soon as possible ~ thank you.  I anticipate the Street Listings being available in late May for those of you who like to purchase them for $15.  Please call our office before heading up to town hall to see if the Street Listings have arrived so you don’t waste a trip.  I would like to thank Assistant Town Clerk, Kerrie Perkins, Administrative Aide, Jennifer Hose and the Registrars Helene Vitale, Jenn Moitozo, and Kathy Conti for your help with processing the 5,000+ census forms we received to date.  We all had another busy and successful Census season ~ thank you all!

Please Note:  If you received a second “street listing” request from our office, the first notice was your 2024 Census mailer, which arrived in each Rehoboth household during the first week of January 2024.  The census mailer arrived with the Town 2024 calendar and various inserts (dog license, Police CodeRed flyer and Ambulance subscription flyer); which was due January 31, 2024.  If your census was not returned, by February, our Registrars called and left a message (LM on the 2^nd notice) to please return your signed census as soon as possible.  If we did not receive your completed census form in March, we mailed the 2^nd request Street listing with the Registrars comments for you to complete, sign and return.  The first mailing was from our census printer, the second mailing was from the State VRIS computer, so they do look different but contain the same household information.  We thank you for returning your completed census as soon as possible. 

2024 DOG LICENSES
Dog licenses are due and payable on April 1^st of each year.  Thank you to the 1,570 dog owners who have already renewed their dog’s 2024 license.  Any dog license not paid by May 31^st will be assessed a $15.00 per dog late fee in addition to the license fee(s). Yearly we offer dog owners a 60-day grace period to pay their dog’s licenses without charging a late fee; however, we must now impose those fees effective June 1^st.  You may renew your dog license online (https://permiteyes.us/rehoboth/publichome.php ), by mail, or in person.  Currently we have 712 dogs that are unlicensed; we hope to hear from their owners soon.  Reminder postcards were sent to unlicensed dog owners the last week of April.  If you received a postcard reminder, please renew your dog’s license as soon as possible and definitely by May 31^st to avoid the late fees.  Thanks so much!

Anyone having questions regarding any of the above information may call the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-252-6502, X3109, X3112 or X3110 or e-mail me at LSchwall@RehobothMA.gov .  In closing, Kerrie, Jenn and I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in Rehoboth.  We also wish everyone a healthy and safe Memorial Day.  Reminder, the Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for Monday, May 27, 2024.  The Parade will start at 10:15 AM near the Anawan School & American Legion on Bay State Road, travel through the village and end up at the Veterans’ Memorial Gazebo, Redway Plain.   Hopefully by Memorial Day the weather will be rain free and absolutely perfect. Most importantly, on Memorial Day, please remember to honor all those who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our country and protect its citizens.  Please have a happy, healthy and safe month of MAY!  See you at Town Meeting in June.

~ Laura ~