2016 ANNUAL REPORT of the TOWN OFFICERS & SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1 2 2016 BOARD OF SELECTMEN ANNUAL REPORT Of foremost concern to the Board of Selectmen in 2016 was the need for new facilities to house our public safety personnel and Town offices personnel. The Board established a Municipal Complex Committee consisting of Police Chief Trombetta, Fire Chief Barresi, Bill Maiorano, Bob Ashton, Scott Meagher, John Santos and Jake Kramer. With the assistance of architectural engineer, Ted Rowse, a conceptual plan was developed to house both public safety personnel and Town office personnel at the current Public Safety Complex site. A cost estimate was established and the Board voted to hold a Special Town Meeting in January of 2017 to approve the funding for the project. The Board thanks all the members of the Municipal Complex Committee for their diligent and conscientious work on this project. The Board of Selectmen met several times throughout the year with the Dighton Board of Selectmen to discuss issues relevant to both communities. One issue of great importance, which resulted from these meetings, was a Joint Statement to the citizens of both Rehoboth and Dighton regarding the establishment of a Police Emergency Response Protocol and Fire Department Mutual Aid Agreements. Spectra Energy / Algonquin Gas presented a proposed project to the Board known as the Access Northeast Project which included the construction of a compressor station to be located in North Rehoboth. This project garnered great concern from the citizens of Rehoboth and neighboring communities which resulted in the formation of an organized group of citizens known as the Concerned Citizens Against the Rehoboth Compressor Station (CCARCS). The Board hosted a public forum informational session with Spectra in September of 2016 in an effort to have Spectra address the many questions and concerns raised by the residents of Rehoboth as well as public officials and residents of other communities. The Board addressed citizens’ concerns by writing a letter calling for a ban of any tariff tax on energy bills and a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requesting additional scoping hearings to be held in Rehoboth. Additionally, the Board voted to place a non-binding question on the next Town Election Warrant regarding the Access Northeast Compressor Station Project whereby allowing citizens to voice their approval or disapproval of the project. Progress was made throughout the year on the following ongoing projects: Wheeler Street Bridge project moved forward with an anticipated completion date in the Spring of 2017 and Women’s Development Group continues to move forward with the Anawan School Project. As a result of Town Meeting approval of a new General Bylaw allowing residents of Rehoboth to apply for a Personal Dog Kennel Permit for more than four dogs, the Board approved applications for two personal kennels in 2016. Selectman Michael Costello resigned from the Board of Selectmen in Spring 2016, citing increased responsibilities in his professional life. The Board tasked members of the Water Commission, with the aid of students from Roger Williams College, with a well mapping project identifying the wells and sources of water in Rehoboth. 3 The Board appointed a Maps Review Committee to review all Town maps for zoning and water resources, as well as other areas of concern, for their accuracy and current and future use. Richard Grenier, Jane Foster, Michael Tyler and Cathy Doane left the Town’s employment in 2016. The Board thanks these individuals for their service to the Town and wishes them well in their future endeavors. The Board welcomed the following new Town employees: Town Accountant, Roberta Oliveira; Veteran’s Agent, Jake Kramer; Highway Superintendent, Michael Costello; and Robert Johnson as Interim Animal Control Officer. The Board of Selectmen continually strives to provide the best quality of services possible to the citizens of Rehoboth. The Board formally extends sincere thanks to all the municipal staff, members of the boards and committees, and all elected and appointed officials as well as the many dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to make Rehoboth a great community in which to live. Respectfully submitted, Frederick E. Vadnais, Jr., Chairman Gerald V. Schwall, Vice Chairman Susan M. Pimental, Clerk David A. Perry, Jr., Member 4 REPORT OF THE REHOBOTH TOWN CLERK Hello all and thank you for another wonderful year of serving the public. As the plaque in my office states “Live your Dreams – Love your Life” and I absolutely do, thanks to the residents and voters of Rehoboth. Rehoboth had another eventful year in 2016 ~ four elections, one of which was my first Presidential Election as your Town Clerk, and two Town Meeting sessions; our Annual and Special Town Meeting on May 9th and our Fall Special Town Meeting on October 17th. For the first time in Massachusetts’ history the voters were given the opportunity to cast their Presidential Election ballots before the November 8th election due to the newly adopted “Early Voting” regulations. Early Voting Sessions were made available for the Presidential Election from Monday, October 24th through Friday, November 4th. Rehoboth had a total of 1,749 voters cast their ballot early and ended up with a total voting participation of 81% (6,972 voters) at the November 8, 2016 Presidential Election. I know the opportunity to vote early was a contributing factor to the 81% participation as we had a whopping 24% of the voters come out early to vote (281 Absentee Voters and 1,749 Early Voting Participants = 2,030 early voters). Voters really enjoyed the Early Voting process. I would like to thank all the “Early Voters” who came out to vote during the first Massachusetts Early Voting Session; you are all now a part of history!! I would also personally like to thank all the Election Workers who helped us with the Early Voting Sessions on October 29th and the week of October 31-November 4th. Early Voting was successful statewide also resulting in State Elections informing the Massachusetts City and Town Clerks that Early Voting is here to stay for all future biennial State elections. There will be some tweaking of the law to make it less cumbersome and costly to the cities and towns in the future; however, Early Voting will be a part of all Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections in the future and may expand to all elections – details will be shared when the election laws are updated/amended. Speaking of the Presidential Election, in January the Rehoboth and Seekonk election workers teamed up at the Seekonk facility, rather than the Rehoboth Town Hall, due to limited meeting space. We met with Ms. Bridget Simmons Murphy, Election Specialist, from the Secretary of State – Elections Bureau. Ms. Simmons spoke to the group on the new election laws and what our additional Election Day responsibilities will be during this busy Presidential Election year. The turnout was fantastic – 72 people in attendance inclusive of 30 Rehoboth Election Workers, and the Town Clerks and the Assistant Town Clerks of Dighton, Seekonk, and Rehoboth. I must thank all for attending, Bridget’s workshop was quite informative and enjoyed by everyone. We again teamed up with Seekonk to hold our 3rd Annual Seekonk-Rehoboth Rabies Clinic in March. Also in March, I teamed up with Sue Medeiros, Dighton Town Clerk, and held our third voter registration session at the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School for those students who were eligible to vote in the upcoming Rehoboth & Dighton Annual Town Elections. We were able to register ten students – six from Rehoboth and four from Dighton. On October 12, we again went to the D-R High School to register those students who would be eligible to vote in the November 8th election. Sue Medeiros, Dighton Town Clerk, and I registered over two-dozen students for the upcoming election during their lunch period. It was great seeing how excited the students were to register and vote in their first Presidential Election. In 2016 we located the missing Boston Post Cane and revived a 107 year old tradition of awarding the cane to the eldest Rehoboth Resident. This year Mrs. Francelina Veader was awarded the Boston Post Cane on 2016 Report of Town Clerk ~ Page 1 of 104 5 Monday, July 25th at the COA Senior Center at the wonderful age of 102. Continuing my goal of making town government more accessible to the residents, the Town Clerk’s office kept the residents well versed of town events through the 3rd Annual Census calendar that was sent out the first week of January. This year’s photo feature was the historic “Bad Luck Pond” located on Reservoir Avenue near Gorham Street; such a beautiful location. The calendar lists upcoming due dates such as real estate tax payments, census forms, dog licenses, upcoming elections, upcoming town meetings, town hall holidays, and employee contact information along with other helpful information (and phone numbers) for the residents. The Rehoboth Reporter continues to be extremely generous to print my “From the Clerk’s Corner” article each month; informing residents of the events in the Clerk’s Department – Thank you Rehoboth Reporter owners and staff for your support and publication! Another exciting adventure I had was being a part of the TLC Program at Beckwith Middle School in October of 2016. I was asked by Ms. Carol Jerauld to come to Beckwith and speak with the students about the Rehoboth Town Clerk’s position. I would like to thank Ms. Jerauld, Ms. Meaghan Hazzard, Ms. Lindsey Rapoza, and Ms. Kelly Walsh for welcoming me into their classroom. I had a lovely time and was able to bring a bit of the Town Clerk’s Office to Beckwith for the students to witness firsthand.