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Town Clerk


The Town Clerk serves as a recording officer and custodian of vital statistics and valuable municipal records.  Among other duties, the Town Clerk records and certifies all votes passed at Town Meeting, administers and records oaths of office to town officials and records various instruments as required by law.  The Town Clerk also issues certificates and licenses, prepares street and voting lists and supervises all elections.

Contact the Town Clerk:

Trudy L. Reid, Town Clerk

Office:
Town Hall
138 Main Street
Wenham, MA  01984
Phone:  978-468-5520 ext. 1
Fax:  978-468-8014
Email: 
Trudy Reid




 

Office Hours:
Office is closed for lunch between 2:30 PM 3:30 PM
9 AM – 4:30 PM – Monday/Wednesday/Thursday
9 AM – 7:00 PM – Tuesday
9 AM – 1:00 PM - Friday
Links:

ELECTIONS
State Election voting takes place at The Wenham Town Hall, 138 Main Street.  Polls are open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM.  Currently, the Annual Town Election takes place at the Buker School, 1 School Street.  Polls for annual town election are open from 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon.  The school and town hall are handicapped accessible, and a voting machine is available for the hearing/seeing impaired.

2012 Election Dates:

Presidential Primary – Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Annual Town Election – Saturday, May 5, 2012 – 8:00 AM 12:00 Noon

Annual Town Meeting – Saturday, May 5, 2012 – 1:00 PM

State Primary – Thursday, September 6, 2012

State Election – Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Voter Registration:  All Citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in Town, State, and Federal Elections if they are 18 years of age on or before the next election.  The registration deadline is twenty days before each election or Town Meeting.  Residents wishing to register to vote may do so at the Town Clerk’s Office or the Registry of  Motor Vehicles.  You may also register to vote by calling 617-727-2828 or 1-800-462-VOTE and a form will be mailed to you.

ONLINE VOTER NOTICE -AUGUST 2012

Absentee Ballots:  Election Laws require that Absentee Ballots be available to Registered voters who meet one of the following three criteria:

1.  Absent from the Town during hours the polls are open

2.  Physical disability which would prevent voting at the polling place

3.  Religious beliefs that would prevent participation on the day of the election

An application must be completed and received by the Town Clerk by noon on the day before the election.  You can call the Town Clerk’s office to request an application, or click on “Forms” to go to a link at the bottom of this page to download a copy. 

Absentee Ballots must be delivered through the US Mail to each requester, or they may be voted at the Town Clerk’s Office.  Voted ballots may be hand delivered to the Town Clerk.

Board of Registrars:  The Board of Registrars operate out of and in conjunction with the Town Clerk’s office and oversee certification of signatures on both local and state Nomination Papers as well as Initiative Petition Papers. The Registrars are also responsible for keeping the Voter Registration list up to date and accurate through the Annual Town Census.  Members of the Board of Registrars are:  Trudy Reid (Town Clerk), Roseann Brosenke, Elizabeth Lebel and Polly Beyer.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES
Business Certificates:
 Business Certificates (DBA/Doing Business As) must be filed by an unincorporated business located in Wenham that is operating under a name other than one’s own.  The fee for a Business Certificate is $20.00 and is valid for four (4) years.  To process a Business Certificate by mail, please click on “Forms” to go to a link on the bottom of this page to download a copy.  Please note:  a notary must sign your certificate if you are doing it by mail.  A check should be made payable to “The Town of Wenham”.

Dog Licenses:  Massachusetts General Law 140, Section 137 requires that all dogs six months of age or older must be licensed.  Evidence of a current rabies vaccination must be provided.  Licenses are $10.00 each and run from January 1st through December 31st.  Licenses must be renewed by January 31st in order to avoid late fees.  Kennel Permits are available at the discretion of the Board of Selectman and The Animal Control Officer.  Kennel Fees are $200.00 for four (4) or more dogs, up to fifty (50) dogs. 

To process a dog license by mail, please click on “Forms” to go to a link at the bottom of this page to download a copy of the dog license application.  Once completed, please mail the application, a copy of the dog rabies certificate, a self addressed stamped envelope and a check made payable to the Town of Wenham to the attention of the Town Clerk.  Once the paperwork is received, a dog tag will be mailed to you.

Marriage License:  To apply for a Mass Marriage License, both parties must come into the Town Clerk’s office together to file a Marriage Intention.  Both must be at least 18 years old or must obtain a court waiver from the district court.  Premarital blood work is no longer required by the state.    Marriage Licenses are valid for 60 days and may be used to marry in any Massachusetts city or town.  There is a mandatory three-day waiting period from the application date to the date the license is issued.  This can be waived only through a court order.  The fee for a marriage license is $15.00.

Hunting and Fishing Licenses:  Beginning January 1, 2012, hunting and fishing licenses will no longer be sold at the Wenham Town Clerk’s Office.

The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) is announcing that all licenses and permits will be obtained electronically from either a home computer, participating license vendor, or from a DFW office. Licenses, stamps, and permits for the 2012 calendar year will be available for purchase in early December. See link to FAQs to find out more about purchasing your 2012 licenses and reporting your game online!

ALL LICENSES CAN NOW BE PURCHASED VIA THE INTERNET FROM THE FOLLOWING STATE LINK:

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/index.htm

A list of official Massachusetts license vendors will be available online in early December at: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/licensing/vendors/license_vendors.htm and at MassWildlife offices, located in Ayer (978) 772-2145; Belchertown (413) 323-7632; Boston (617) 626-1590; Bourne (508) 759-3406; Dalton (413) 684-1646; West Boylston (508) 835-3607; and Westborough (508) 389-6300.

THOSE RESIDENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER FROM THEIR HOME CAN USE THE H-W PUBLIC LIBRARY COMPUTERS AS A LOCAL RESOURCE WHEN THE STATE SYSTEM GOES ON LINE.

VITAL RECORDS
Certified copies of Birth, Death and Marriage records are available at $5.00 each.  Copies may be obtained by mail by submitting a written request with a check payable to the “Town of Wenham” and a self-addressed stamped envelope, or by appearing in person at the Town Clerk’s office during office hours.

RAFFLE PERMITS
A Raffle Permit is needed by any organization that intends to run a raffle.  Only Non-Profit organizations that have been in existence for at least two (2) years qualify for a raffle permit.  Permits are $10.00 each and are good for one (1) year. 
To apply for a raffle permit by mail, please click on "Forms" or go to the link at the bottom of this page to download the application.

OTHER SERVICES
Street Listing:
  The annual publication, mandated by Massachusetts General Laws, lists all persons seventeen years of age and older, giving address, year of birth, occupation and voter status. Booklets are printed up for the use of town officials, fire/police depts. and any and all other town committees or boards.  Copies are available to Wenham residents at $10.00 each, $20.00 non residents, as available.

Notary Public Services:  Notary Public Services are available in the office of the Town Clerk.  The individual who is having his or her signature notarized must provide proper identification.  Reminder:  Document MUST BE signed in the presence of the Notary – DO NOT SIGN IT AHEAD OF TIME!!

FORMS

NOTICES