Town of Shirley - Shirley, MA

TOWN CLERKThis report covers July 1, 2011, to June 31, 2012 (Fiscal Year 2012). It includes records of thefollowing elections and town meetings:ElectionsSeptember 13, 2011 – Special Town ElectionDebt and Capital Exclusion QuestionsMarch 6, 2012 – Presidential PrimaryMay 15, 2012 – Annual Town ElectionTown MeetingsNovember 7, 2011 – Special Town MeetingMarch 28, 2012 – Special Town MeetingRedevelopment of Vicksburg SquareMay 21, 2012 – Annual Town MeetingAs Town Clerk, I serve the town in wide-ranging capacities: registrar of vital statistics, publicrecords officer, recording officer, licensing officer, chief election official, member of the Boardof Registrars of Voters and public information officer. I interact with all of the town’s boards,committees and commissions and several state agencies on a regular basis. Some of my dutiesthat are most visible to the public include:- recording birth, marriage and death certificates for residents and inmates at correctionalfacilities in Shirley; researching and issuing certified copies of vital records dating backto 1753, including records from the US Army Hospital at Fort Devens;- swearing in appointed and elected town officials and keeping records of the state andtown policies I provide to them;- maintaining the town’s archives and responding to public records requests;- receiving and recording minutes and decisions of various boards;- attending town meetings, taking the minutes, and providing certified copies of the articlesvoted on to town and state entities;- issuing dog licenses and raffle permits;- organizing, arranging for staffing and running all elections;- registering voters and conducting the annual town census/street listing;- directing residents to areas of town, state and federal government for assistance oranswers to questions;- providing information about Shirley and its government to new and existing residents.The Massachusetts Town Clerk’s Association has determined that there are seventy-threechapters and four hundred fifty-one statutes of the Massachusetts General Laws that direct theTown Clerk’s duties. Ensuring that we are in compliance with these laws, and keeping abreast ofchanges to them is an important and ongoing focus.Under the revised Open Meeting Law, a town is permitted to post its official notices of board,committee and commission meetings on its town website. In the winter of 2012, I transitioned ourpostings to the website, and as of March 2012 it became our official posting location. Having thepostings online is in sync with our technologically-driven society, and makes it convenient for thepublic to see up-to-the-minute meeting information 24 hours a day. I automatically receiveelectronic copies of the postings/revisions and maintain hard copies at my office for two years.I am grateful for those who assisted me in the office this year. Marjorie Marcinkewicz, volunteerextraordinaire, and the participants of the Senior Tax Work-Off Program help me with day-to-dayoperations and special projects. The volume of work that needs to be done consistently exceedswhat one person can reasonably accomplish, and the office would not run as smoothly withoutthem. I am also grateful for our election workers and members of the Board of Registrars ofVoters. I appreciate that they are willing to serve when asked.I look forward to continuing to serve as your Town Clerk.Respectfully submitted,Amy R. McDougall, Town Clerk39