Serves as Custodian of official Town Records and public documents.
Maintains, records, catalogs and files all official and public documents in conformity with the Massachusetts General Laws.
Files all Boards and Committees meeting minutes.
Administers Oath of Office for all town officials. Administers oath of office as required to all elected officials, appointed members of boards and committees, and police and fire department personnel, and ensures that all officials are in writing of the State's Open Meeting Law and Conflict of Interest laws.
Attests to and maintains documentation on all elected and appointed Town officials, as well as letters of resignation.
Recording Officer. Records and certifies all official actions of Town Meeting legislation and appropriations, prepares and sends newly voted bylaws to the Attorney General’s Office for approval.
Maintains DLS (Division of Local Services) Gateway and Local Officials Directory.
Certifies town budget in order for Assessor's to set tax rate.
Receives and records all applications and final decisions of the Zoning Board of Appeals; issues statements of "no appeal".
Files Zoning By-Law and Town By-Law changes accompanied with necessary documentation for approval with the Attorney General; records and notifies appropriate officials of approval/disapproval.
Serves as "Keeper of the Seal". Seals and attests to elected officials, by signature, to By Laws,resolutions and contracts, easements, deeds, bonds and other documents requiring town certification.
Issues certificates of the votes taken at Town meeting as required by law or upon request.
Serves as Chief Elections Officer for the Town with full responsibility for the total administration of fair and impartial local, state, and federal elections and town meetings in accordance with the Secretary of State's office and local By-laws.
Prepares election calendar, manages all on-site activity at the polling place, arranges for the physical setup of polls, trains poll workers, prepares tally sheets; oversees and reports official election results to the Secretary of State's Office, and is a member of the Board of Registrars.
Responsible for the layout and printing of town ballots. Prepares, receives, and certifies nomination papers and initiative petitions. and provides necessary election calendar and candidate information.
Arranges for applications, mailing and return of absentee ballots for all elections.
Over sees all aspects of voter registrations and related functions using automated state voter registration system: Central Voter Registration System (CVR). Resolves voter issues.
Reports the official list of town officials elected and qualified to the Secretary of State's office after every local election, and reports any changes in such offices as they occur. Attests to and maintains files of appointed and elected Town officials.
Serves as Public Records Officer. Responsible for the processing, verifying, routing, and maintenance of official records, documents, business and legal records.
Preserves and maintains archival information and issues certified copies of birth, death and marriage records thereby providing a legal and historically accurate record of Town actions. Maintains and develops systematic procedures for the disposal of obsolete records. Responsible for the dissemination of information to all town departments, boards, committees, commissions and to the public regarding statutory regulation, from the Federal, State, County, and Local levels concerning the adherence to and changes to policy in a timely fashion.
Distributes and explains,upon request, Open Meeting Law and Conflict of lnterest Law to all Boards and Committees.
Tracks and reminds employees, appointed and elected officials of biannual MA state ethics Training requirement.
Serves as Registrar of Vital Statistics. Records and indexes all birth, marriage and death certificates; with genealogical research for members of the public, and is responsible for maintenance, disposition, and preservation of municipal archival records and materials.
Reports monthly to the State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, adhering to records management schedules and files amendments to birth, marriage and death certificates as required; corrects and amends certificates as directed by court action from Massachusetts and all other states; establish birth records for foreign born adopted children upon request.
Serves as a Licensing Officer. Issues state, local and county licenses, permits and certificates including marriage licenses, raffle and bazaar permits, burial permits, business certificates, dog licenses; ensuring that rabies vaccination is current.
As Census and Voter Registration Administrator, the Town Clerk is responsible for the State Central Voter Registry Information System (CVR) on a local level as well as all related census activity.
Mails an annual census form to each household, enters the data in CVR, prepares and arranges for the printing of the Annual Street List.
Verifies and certifies residency upon request; transmits census information to Jury Commission, manages residency verification, publicizes voter registration sessions, manages voter list, verifies and certifies signatures of voters on petitions and nomination papers, manages and maintains Absentee Balloting lists for all Elections and certifies voter status.
Attends training seminars or programs in order to maintain knowledge of changes in local, state or federal regulations/laws as well as the application of technology in support of department operations.
Must attend all Annual Town Meetings and Special Town Meetings and be available to attend other Town and Department related meetings and events including but not limited to the Finance Committee meetings and rabies clinics.
