From the Town Clerk…….

Federal/State Election

The 2024 Election for Federal, State and County offices is now certified and recorded. Over 10,000 Bellingham voters took part in this election, the results of which are printed in this newspaper. Modes of voting ranged from a two-week in person early voting period, to absentee and mail-in ballots, and finally ballots cast on November 5th, Election Day. We certainly had a very busy “election season” capping off a year with four elections. Thank you to my staff, the poll workers and the voters!

Census/Dog Licenses

The 2025 census will go out to all households in Bellingham during the month of January. Please fill it out and return it as soon as possible. The annual census is important to the Town as it determines the amount of State funding to be received. It is also important as State Law requires the Town Clerk to inactivate any voters who have not responded to the annual census. Once inactive, a voter will be required to fill out an affidavit in order to vote in the future.

Don’t forget to include your dog license applications and payment with the return of the census so you do not run the risk of incurring late charges or fines. Dog licenses are due on April 1, 2025.

Farewell

This is the last article that I will be writing for The Bellingham Bulletin as your Town Clerk. I have met many wonderful people during my time in Bellingham and experienced a crash course in municipal government through the many boards and committees on which I have served. Leaving is bittersweet, but it is time that I move on to a new chapter.

My tenure as Town Clerk has also been a tumultuous time, with my first solo election taking place during COVID, the major labor-intensive changes in election and other laws, staff issues, and unfounded criticisms on social media. However, with the help of my current staff, Amy Bartelloni (FT), David Wyatt (PT), Nancy O’Rourke (PT), and Judy Morris (Tax Workoff) and the wonderful election workers, we have managed to meet the ever-changing challenges. I feel that I am leaving a very competent staff to continue on and wish them well. I will miss them deeply and they will forever be my friends. To all the people at Town Hall and throughout Bellingham who have supported and befriended me, I thank them and wish them the best always. With that, I will say, “Happy Holidays to all and to all a farewell!”