Town Clerk

Voter Registration Information

There are multiple ways to register to vote.  You can register at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, pick up a voter registration form outside the Town Clerk's office or register online.  Visit https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm for more information.

 

Public Records Requests

Many citizens would like to know more about the activities of committees and boards in town.  You may find the information you are seeking on a board or committee's page on the town website.  If the information is not there or you don't have web access, you are welcomed to make a public records request to the Town Clerk.  You can click here to email your request.

Under state Public Record Law,  the requests for public records in Shutesbury are made to Susie Mosher, Town Clerk, our Records Access Officer.  Requests can be made in writing or by email.  Please include contact your information.  For more an update on the Public Records law, go to   https://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/prenotice.htm

Shutesbury has guidelines for the Public Record here.

Minutes for Meetings

The Open Meeting Law Guide describes the requirements for minutes on pages 15-16 and can be read here.  

I am attaching samples of minute templates that meet the OML requirements in different styles.  Your committee may have their own format that meets the requirements.    Table Format   Narrative Format  You can get copies of these forms in the lower right-hand mailbox in the hallway at Town Hall and from the stand outside the Town Clerk's office. 

Mandatory Ethics Training for All Employees and Volunteers

Upon appointment or hire and on an annual basis thereafter, the Town Clerk is required by statute to provide all municipal employees and volunteers with a copy of the Conflict of Interest Law and to obtain a signed receipt from the employee/volunteer. Additionally, all employees and volunteers must, complete an online ethics training and multiple choice exercise within 30 days of beginning public service and every 2 years thereafter.  This information and training is to ensure understanding of the Massachusetts ethics code. Upon completion of the exercise, a certificate will pop up. Employees/volunteers can either copy, paste and send the certificate of completion of the training exercise to townclerk@shutesbury.org or print and deliver certificate to the town clerk's office.
 

Required Information for Appointed and Elected Members of Shutesbury Government

People new to a board or position should get sworn in at the Town Clerk's office and I can hand you the full folder of information. For those who want to read or print themselves a copy of information sheets, the documents are linked here.

DBA information and forms

Information and forms for a DBA certificate can be found here.

License or Re-license Your Dog by Mail or In Person

      The 2018-19 Dog tags are in.  You may register your dog now. Applications will be available @ Town Meeting, and are online, (Click here) and outside the Town Clerk Office. Please remember to include proof of current rabies vaccination, your payment and a self-addressed, stamped envelope, (two first class stamps required).
      The dog license year runs from July 1 to June 30 each year. Please re-license in May or June to avoid an expired dog tag.   Early birds can avoid a late fee if their dog is registered before August 1.  New dogs are to be licensed by 6 months of age or within 30 days of residing in the Town of Shutesbury. 

Order a Vital Record (Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate)

  • Submit request by phone, fax, or email townclerk@shutesbury.org.
  • Include any known information - name and date preferred.
  • Include a $5 payment (made out to "Town of Shutesbury")
  • Include a self-addressed stamped envelope, or a preferred
    time to pick up the certificate at the Town Clerk's office.

Search Vital Records

Genealogists are welcome to email specific inquiries. This office will evaluate what is
available and send an estimated cost to complete the research and make copies as requested.
 

News & Updates

Voter Registration Period

The voter registration period for our upcoming Annual Town Meeting and Election will close on Friday, April 12.  Residents of Shutesbury who are not already registered can pick up voter registration forms at the Town Clerk's office or get a form on line http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm  

Along with the regular Town Clerk hours, (Mon 3:30 - 6, Tues. - Fri. mornings 8;30 - 10:30, and Thurs. evenings 6-8) the Town Clerk's office will be open extra hours on Friday, April 12 from 2 - 4 pm and 7 - 8 pm. 

Nomination Papers and Citizen Petitions are Due Soon

Planning for Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, May 4 is reaching some of the deadline dates.

MARCH 15 - Nomination papers must be turned in to the Town Clerk by 5 pm.  So far we have nominations papers completed by:

       Board of Health - Catherine Hilton, incumbent

       Board of Library Trustees - Brad Foster and Michele Regan-Ladd, both incumbents 

       Moderator - Paul Lyons

       Planning Board - Jeff Lacy, incumbent

Special Town Meeting and Voter Registration

Tuesday MARCH 26 there will be a Special Town Meeting regarding funds for the Broadband project. You can find more information about this in the Winter edition of Our Town Newsletter, linked on the home page of this website.  Note that the rescheduled date for the meeting is 3/26/19 at the Elementary School at 7 pm

In order to vote on any article at a town meeting, registered voters must attend the meeting and vote in person when the article is presented and the vote is called.  This is because the language to any warrant article is open to amendments.

Nomination Papers Available

Nomination papers for seats that will be on the Town Ballot are now available in the Town Clerk's office.  Twenty signatures from Shutesbury registered voters are needed.  The papers must be returned to the Town Clerk in by Friday, March 15 at 5 pm.  The following seats, all three year terms, will be on the ballot:

Board of Health - 1   Cemetery Commissioner -1   Constable -1   Board of Library Trustees -2   Planning Board - 3   Moderator -1   School Committee -1   Municipal Light Plant -1 and Select Board -1

How to Receive Meeting Notifications

If you were receiving calendar notifications using our previous posting system, you will need to follow the steps below to sign up for these emails again.

You can sign up for notifications of meetings for any committee by going to our new posting website: https://www.mytowngovernment.org/01072

Use the drop down menu on the left to pick the committee you want to follow.  On the committee's page, click, "Subscribe to Email Alerts."  You will need to repeat these steps for each committee separately.

 

2019 Annual Town Census

The blue Annual Street List form has been mailed to you! The state requires towns to contact every resident to update the street list and confirm every voter.  Children, non-voters and non-voters, everyone and anyone in your household should be listed on the form correctly.  Please add any missing information.  If there is more than one household at your address, please request additional forms.

If a voter has moved away, please write down an address so I can get a signature to remove them from the town voter rolls. 

Census

The 2018 Annual Street Listing Form that combines the Town Census and the State Voter Census is coming to your household soon. 

Info and Resources