TOWN CLERKS OFFICE

Additional Pages

• Dog Licenses
• NEW Online Conflict of Interest Training
• 2026 State Primary Election
• What is the Blackboard Connect Service?

Town Clerk	Joseph J. Judd
Hours	Monday and Tuesday10:15am - 5:15pm; Thurs 10:15 am-4:15pm
Phone	(413) 625-0300
FAX	(413) 625-0312
Email	townclerk@townofshelburnema.gov
Address	51 Bridge Street, Shelburne, MA 01370

Town Clerk Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Office of the Shelburne Town Clerk to be a primary provider of information and quality services to the community, to work cooperatively and in coordination with a variety of departments and groups, while performing a myriad of tasks to achieve established goals and comply with state and local statutes.

The Town Clerk is a bonded elected official whose office operates under many Massachusetts Genreal Laws and certain Town By-Laws specific to the office. Example of the duites of an Elected Town Clerk are as follows:

Town Meeting

The Town Clerks primary duty at Town Meeting is to make, and keep, a permanent record of all votes and transactions of the meeting as announced by the Town Moderator. The Town Clerks record is the only offical record of a Town Meeting vote, and it cannot be changed or corrected except by the Town Clerk who originally created the record. After Town Meeting, the Town Clerk is often required to issue a variety of certificates and reports to both town and state officials. The Town Cerk must also prepare and document all Town Meeting actions and proceedings which will be kept in the form of a permanent record.

Town Election and More

Preparation of local, state and federal election ballots, overseas ballots, absentee and early voting ballots, and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the election process, including all election related activities, in the Town of Shelburne. Assists the public with Genealogical research. Chief Records Access Officer for Massachusetts Public Records Law requests in Shelburne. Posts all hearing and meeting notices on the Official Town Posting location. Issues raffle/bazaar permits, dog licenses, marriage licenses, certified copies of birth, marriage, death certificates, business certificates D/B/A.

Other reponsibilties under Massachusetts General Law include:

Keeper of all vital records (G.L. c.41 §15 and M.G.L. c.66 §6)

Serves as the municipality’s Chief Election Official (G.L. c.41 §15)

Submits all new town bylaws to the Attorney General for review and approval (G.L. c.44 §32)

Records all the votes of the legislative body (G.L. c.41 §15)

Certifies election results (G.L. c.41 §15)

Gives oath of office to newly elected, reelected, and appointed officials (G.L. c.41 §15 & G.L. c.41 §107) G.L. c41 §107

Certifies certain debt notes and bond documents (G.L. c44 §24)

Interacts with with DLS as follows:

Submits Proposition 2 ½ ballot question election results

Certifies oath of office has been administered

Submits borrowing authorization report (G.L. c.44 §28)

Certifies information on Page 4 of Tax Rate Recap in Gateway

“Sign” LA-5 Options & Certification form in Gateway

Submit notification of local option excise adoptions

Submit notification of adoptions impacting property taxes

Serves as DLS Gateway local account administrators

Updates Local Officials Directory (LOD)

Certifies warrant articles approved by town meeting

The Town Clerk is also responsible, under MGL, for the maintenance, disposition and preservation of municipal archival records and materials including:

General and zoning bylaws (G.L. c.40 §32B)

Election results (G.L. c.41 §15 and M.G.L. c.39 §3)

Resignations and appointments, and administers the oath of office (G.L. c.41 §15)

Publications (G.L. c.66 §6A)

Town meeting minutes (G.L. c.41 §15)

Financial statements including budget documents (G.L. c.66 §6A)

Certain Licenses

Local and Annual census taking (G.L. c.51§4)

Town Clerks may have additional responsibilities with oversight by other state or federal agencies not included in this document.

General Information

All Dogs 6 months or older must be licensed by March 31st each year to avoid a late fine. More information can be found on the Dog Licenses page.