 |
The Town Clerk acts as the Town's chief election official, recording officer, registrar of vital records and statistics, public records officer and licensing officer and is the point for general information to Belmont's inhabitants, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Federal Government and the general public.
The current Town Clerk is also commissioned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public.
In addition, examples of items issued from the Town Clerk's office include:
Business Licenses
Antiques, Auctioneer, Class I and Class II Automobile, Common Victualler, Junk, Livery Service, Lodging House, Movie Theater and Taxi
Public notices and meeting minutes
Town meeting information
Zoning Board decisions
Business Certificates
Fuel Storage Permits
Raffle Permits
Election-related Activities Include: Voter Registration, Voting Lists, Ballot Preparation, Coordination of Voting Places, Certification of the Election Results with the Secretary of State and Mass. Dept of Revenue, Certification of Nomination Papers and Initiative Petitions, Candidate Filings such as Campaign Finance Forms, Annual Town Census, Resident Book, List of Residents to the Office of the Jury Commissioner.
Upon election or appointment to an Town office, board, commission or committee, the individual must be administered the oath of office (be sworn in to serve) at the Town Clerk's Office prior to participating in a meeting requiring a vote. At that time, the State's Open Meeting Law is distributed or referred by on-line access and a copy of the Ethics Law is distributed. Newly elected and re-elected Town Meeting Members are administered the oath of office at Town Meeting. Please see above for a complete advisory for newly elected Town Meeting Members and for those serving on boards, committees and commissions.
The Town Clerk is elected for renewable three year terms and receives a salary, the amount of which is voted at the Annual Town Meeting.
| |