Recorder December 2019
President's Message
Message from the President:
December 2019
Happy Holidays to all and best wishes to all of you as you gather together with family and friends to celebrate this special time of year.
I hope you are all able to take a few extra days to enjoy yourselves as we enter into 2020 with what is surely to be a whirlwind of a year.
I am pleased that the dates for our Early Voting have been defined and that the concern about when the State Primary will be is no longer. Early Voting will take place only for the Presidential Primary but not the State Primary.
Realizing that all communities have their own local elections and town meetings it is easier to plan isn’t it?
For those of you who do try to take a winter vacation in a warm sunny spot – you may just need to bump up the date – but do it anyway; and for those of you who enjoy the warmer beach weather here in MA plan accordingly, but take the time for yourself.
I received an invitation from our State Auditor Suzanne Bump to travel to Boston to discuss Early Voting Costs and other mandates and opted to include Bob Cutler, Liz Greendale and Andrew Dowd our Legislative Chairman. Unfortunately I have nothing to report as the meeting that was to take place has been rescheduled until January. It is reassuring however to note that the she realizes that our opinions are needed. Other groups of course will be present, and I believe that with good discussion we can perhaps clarify some of the inconsistencies for reimbursement and costs associated with EV.
The Winter Conference in Devens – February 5 through the 7th will soon be here. I do expect that it will be heavily attended and am also hoping that the normal winter snowstorm that seems to come either just before or during our time finds itself elsewhere.
Classes have been arranged and the focus of course will be Elections and Voting, but the Education Committee has done its job by providing all of us with the essential tools and having speakers that provide the necessary information and details needed to perform our jobs in the professional manner necessary. New and different yes, but many things will not change. Be sure to bring lots of questions or when you register online submit any question you have ahead of time.
For those of you who will have special elections – while it will be an additional time consuming one, I know that you can and will do your best as you fulfill the role of Chief Elections Officer in your communities. For many of you this may be a first, but for others they have been through a similar special election in the past. Dialogue and use their advice if at all possible. I believe that many of you may try to gather after one of the classes at the conference to discuss these issues.
Thanks to Wendy Mickel we will have some fun also – she had a wonderful idea and I hope you take advantage of the new offering of “moving” in a Jazzercise class on Wednesday evening “free” courtesy of the MA Town Clerks Association. Let’s work up a sweat as they say while having some fun!
With deadlines for everything these days I find myself having two appointment books, personal and professional. I write down just about everything, just the other day, I actually put a sticky note on the dash of my car to remind myself to “get gas” and wondered to myself “Is this really what life has become for me?”
I am grateful for all of you – for the roles you perform each day in your communities and for what each of you do to be of help to the MA Town Clerks Association. Whether in the planning of a conference, sharing your knowledge through the Mentoring Program or simply helping a fellow clerk it is appreciated, and it is the key to our strength as an organization.
Yes, 2019 is coming to an end and the 2020 Election year is sure to bring much work for all of us but realize that we have all faced other challenges in years past and we did was necessary to keep the hands of government moving forward.
Nancy J. Talbot - President
Beacon Hill Report
By Thomas Joyce, Esq.
December 2019
At the time of this writing all joint legislative committees have conducted public hearings on most bills before them. It remains to be seen when the many bills heard will be reported to the full House and Senate for debate. With exceptions, all joint committees must report bills out by the first Wednesday of February next year so we can expect a lot of action on Beacon Hill beginning in late January. We will be carefully monitoring our priorities.
On a very positive note, I am pleased to report that on the afternoon of October 31 the early voting task force finally met. Chaired by the heads of the Joint Committee on Election Laws Representative John Lawn and Senator Barry Finegold, MTCA representative Danielle Sicard presented proposed changes including allowing collecting and placing ballots into voting machines thereby doing away with signed envelopes which has caused a great deal of skepticism for early voters. Everyone at the meeting, including the two Chairmen, agreed with Danielle’s proposed changes. I will continue to lobby for these changes to be included in any bill moving forward which may be appropriate. Also, at the meeting, we were asked about same day voter registration and were able to continue to stress our absolute need for updated technology to permit proper connectivity to our polling places. Andy Dowd, Chair of your legislative committee will continue to keep you up to date on these important issues as well.
More recently and with much fanfare, after concluding a flurry of activity, in the early morning on Thursday November 21st the Massachusetts Legislature concluded formal sessions for the year. Later that day it began meeting in twice weekly informal sessions until January when the House and Senate will resume full formals. As you will recall, the rules allow bills to be passed without objection at these sessions. In fact, just the other night the House and Senate came to agreement on a 543-million-dollar supplemental budget bill to close the fiscal books on fiscal 2019 and sent it to the Governor. He had 10 days to act on the bill but saw the urgency to sign it within just 48 hours. At the urging of Secretary Galvin, he vetoed 4 sections dealing with automatic voter registration. It will be interesting to see if the legislature overrides those vetoes early next year.
Included in the budget he signed are sections setting next years primary date at September 1st and providing early voting for the March 3rd presidential primary. Not included was a Senate section providing for early voting for the state primary election next year. As reported in my last
Beacon Hill summary, funding is included to pay for the expense of early voting.
The Senate will begin next year with only 4 Republicans as Senators. Vinny deMacedo from Plymouth and Donald Humason from Westfield have retired. Vinny will take a job in higher education at Bridgewater State College and Don, after a successful election, will serve as Mayor of Westfield. After much negotiating, the Senate special elections for these seats will be held on March 31st.
In conclusion, Andy Dowd and I will continue to keep you informed as things progress. I wish you all a very Happy Holiday season and a successful and healthy New Year.
Clerk Recognition
Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC):
We are pleased to inform you that as of today, the following individual has earned the prestigious Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC):
Amy E. Hennessy Neves, CMC - Town Clerk - Town of Milford, MA
Cindy Nicholson, CMC - Acting Town Clerk - Town of Eastham, MA
Elizabeth Gaffey, CMC - Town Clerk - Town of Walpole, MA
Michelle Jenkins, CMC - Assistant Town Clerk - Town of Southborough, MA
Patricia Detterman, CMC - Assistant Town Clerk - Town of Plympton, MA
The Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) is one of the two professional designations granted by IIMC and is designed to enhance the job performance of the Clerk in small and large municipalities. To earn the CMC designation, a Municipal Clerk must attend extensive education programs often totaling more than 120 educational hours. The CMC designation also requires pertinent experience in a municipality. The CMC program prepares the applicants to meet the challenges of the complex role of the Municipal Clerk by providing them with quality education in partnership with institutions of higher learning, as well as State/Provincial/National Associations. The CMC program has been assisting clerks to excel since 1970.
Founded in 1947, IIMC is a professional association with more than 14,000 members in the US, Canada and 15 other countries. IIMC’s primary goal is to actively promote the continuing education and professional development of municipal clerks through extensive education programs, certification, publications, networking, annual conferences and research. IIMC also engages in municipal research administration, enhances critical professional skill development and fosters a spirit of mutual assistance and good fellowship among municipal clerks around the globe. IIMC is governed by a 26-member Board of Directors.
Additional Information
INFORMATION NEEDED FROM MA TOWN CLERKS REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
In an effort to stay informed and be in contact with all of the various groups statewide, I am reaching out via the Public Recorder to all of you.
Please provide the names and contact information of your President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurers. Information can be sent via email to me – ntalbot@townofware.com .You can also reach me at 413-967-9648 x 103 if you wish to speak to me personally, it’s always good to hear from you.
Once this information has been compiled I’d like to create a link on our MTCA website as a reference for the future.
In the last year there have been many retirements of Town Clerks. Our association has always presented a gift to the individual and I feel that I may have missed a few retirees.
At the present time I am aware of at least 4-5 individuals who just recently or will soon be retiring.
Thanks for your help in fulfilling my request.
Nancy J. Talbot – President
MA Town Clerks Association
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