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Messages from the Town Clerk
At the May 4 Annual Town Election, 273 of our
1255 Registered Voters turned out to vote. We welcome officials
elected for the first time in Shutesbury - Stephen Bannasch to
the School Committee and Jacqueline Katz to the Board of Health.
We are honored to have the remaining elected incumbents return
to their posts: Board of Health - Mary F. Mann; Cemetery Commission
- Gary L. Dihlmann; Constable - Gary L. Dihlmann; Library Trustee
- David A. Cormier; Planning Board - Deacon Bonnar, Susan R. Lesser,
Carole J. Mizaur; School Committee - Bruce M. Ecker; Board of
Selectmen - Ralph J. Armstrong, Jr.; Town Clerk - Leslie Bracebridge.
All departments and committees hold public meetings, which are
posted at the Town Hall at least 48 hours in advance (and postings
may also be available at Shutesbury.org). Shutesbury residents
are encouraged to attend the meetings and to share their views
with the people elected to serve them.
Please remember to re-license your dog for July 1. You may use
the mail-in license application form sent with this newsletter,
call for a new mail-in form, or come to the Town Clerk's office
in person to license your dog. You will need proof of a current
rabies vaccination, which your veterinarian can print out for
you. License fees are $5 for spayed and neutered dogs, and $10
for animals able to propagate. There is a late fine of $5 to owners
of dogs who have not re-licensed by July 30.
Voters have had many opportunities to sign nomination papers and
petitions recently. Such signatures must be legible and be accompanied
by a street address (not a P.O. Box) in order to be counted. Whenever
you sign a nomination paper or petition, if you doubt that a stranger
could read your signature, please remember to also clearly print
your name in the signature box beside or above your signature.
If you use more than one last name (sometimes hyphenated, sometimes
not, sometimes your last name, sometimes your spouse's), you must
use the name you used when you registered to vote to ensure that
your name will be counted on a nomination paper or petition. If
you are uncertain of your registered name or wish to change it,
please call the Town Clerk's office.
If you would like to become a paid election worker, please call
before August to be considered for appointment for the coming
year. People who would be able to begin work at 6:45 am at the
September 17 state primary and/or the November 5 election are
especially needed. We will be offering a special free training
for election workers, provided by the Secretary of State's office,
on the evening of September 11, 2002. We welcome anyone who might
be interested in being an election worker either this year or
in future years to attend this training.
In anticipation of the September 17 state
primary, the last day to register to vote (if you are new to Shutesbury,
or have not previously registered) is August 28. Blank mail-in
registration forms are always available in the Town Hall hallway,
on the bulletin board to the left of the front door, or by calling
or stopping in the Town Clerk's office. Absentee ballots will
be available approximately four weeks in advance of the election
should you be unable to vote in person due to absence from town
on that day, physical disability or religious belief.
A little known Massachusetts law requires that people conducting
a business in a name other than their own name must file a "D.B.A."
(Doing Business As) certificate with the Town Clerk, if the business
is not incorporated. If this applies to you, we will be glad to
explain the law to you and give you the proper form.
Regular Town Clerk office hours are Monday to Thursday, 9 am to
1 pm. and alternating Tuesday evenings. With summer vacations
and other activities that call us away, please call ahead to make
sure someone will be in before making a special trip to the clerk's
office.
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