Town Clerk
Laurie L. Lucier
Town Clerk
The Town Clerk is the chief election official, recording official, registrar of voters, public records official and licensing officer. The Clerk’s office issues dog licenses, raffle/bazaar permits, business certificates and marriage licenses. Records held by the Town Clerk’s office include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, annual town reports, and annual and special town meeting minutes. The Town Clerk oversees the polling places, all elections and election-related activity, and records all actions of Town Meetings.
The office maintains a posting of all public meetings, appointments and resignations of Town Officials and administers oath of office. The Town Clerk maintains the records of amendments to the town bylaws and zoning bylaws. This office conducts the annual census and maintains the voter list and street list.
The Town Clerk is also the Chief Records Access Officer, a Notary Public and a Justice of the Peace. It is my mission to be a reliable provider of information and quality services to the community and its residents.
Birth, Death or Marriage Certificates
The Town Clerk keeps the official records of the town, back to the earliest period. Records of births, deaths and marriages are an important archive for family history. The Town Clerk registers all vital events occurring in the Town of Conway and those occurring elsewhere to local residents. The Office records and preserves birth, marriage and death records.
ALL Certified copies are $5.00 each and can be obtained through the Town Clerk’s Office.
- Impounded or Restricted Birth and/or Marriage records will require a photo ID.
- Checks should be made payable to the Town of Conway.
Vital records can be obtained in person during regular business hours with cash or check only.
Written requests may be sent by mail. Send written requests with a check payable to the Town of Conway and a self-addressed-stamped-envelope to: Town Clerk, P.O. Box 240, Conway, MA 01341. Please include the following information:
- Birth Certificate – child’s full name(s) and date(s) of birth
- Death Certificate – name of deceased and date of passing
- Marriage Certificate – names of both parties and date of marriage
Dog Licenses and the Leash Law
State Law and Town Bylaw require dogs to be licensed each year. The licensing period is from April 1st through March 31st each year. A current Rabies Certificate is required, stating the date of expiration. Proof of neutering or spaying must be provided. All dogs six (6) months of age or older must be licensed.
You can license or renew your license two ways:
- In-person during normal office hours with cash or check
- By mail with check made payable to Town of Conway, copy of current rabies certificate and a self-addressed-stamped-envelope bearing 70-cents postage
Current dog licensing fees are as follows:
- Female – $6.00
- Male or Spayed Female – $3.00
- Kennel – $10.00 (4 dogs), $25.00 (up to 10 dogs) and $50.00 (up to 25 dogs)
- There will be a $10.00 late fee for EACH DOG not licensed before July 1st each year.
The General Bylaws of the Town of Conway requires the restraint of any dog within the Town of Conway by a chain or leash not exceeding eight feet in length, unless such dog is on the premises of the owner or keeper, or upon the premises of another person with permission of such other person. (Adopted – May 1974) If any dog owner or keeper is found to be out of compliance with the dog leash law, a fine of no more than $20.00 shall be assessed in accordance with this Bylaw for the first offense, and $50.00 per offense thereafter.
Business Certificates
If you are starting a business and are a single proprietorship, partnership or corporation doing business under a name other than your own, you must file a Business Certificate with the Town Clerk. The only time you do not have to file a “dba” is when you are doing business in your own complete name.
Filing a Business Certificate at the town level does not protect your name as a corporate filing. It merely allows consumers and creditors to identify the names of the actual owners. State law requires this filing.
A Business Certificate does not give you permission to operate your business; it only registers the name. It is still your responsibility to obtain all permits and/or licenses for your business.
All owners and/or co-owners must appear at the Town Clerk’s office, in person, to supply information and sign the business certificate. Identification is required.
The Fee is $10.00 and the certificate is valid for four (4) years from the date of application.
If any changes occur during the four year period, you must appear and file a change or discontinuance form. The fee is $5.00.
Marriage Licenses
Intentions may be filed in any Town Clerk’s office in Massachusetts for Massachusetts weddings.
Both parties must be present with photo ID when filling out the Marriage Intentions.
- Come prepared with the correct spelling of parents names in full, including middle names.
- Applicants must provide the chosen surname (last name) to be used after marriage
Waiting Period
There is a mandatory three (3) day waiting period from the date Intentions are filed and the date the license can be issued.
Legal Impediments
Individuals must be eighteen (18) years of age and not blood related. Certain relationships are prohibited by Massachusetts stature and others may be prohibited by statutes where the party resides or intends to continue to reside
The license is only valid for sixty (60) days from the date you file your Intention.
A permanent Record of Marriage is maintained by the community where Intentions were filed, as well as Vital Records of Boston.
Fees
For entering Notice of Intention of Marriage and issuing certificate thereof – $10.00
Additional Certified Marriage License copies are $5.00 each
Information about Provisional Ballots
At the State Election held on 06 November 2018 in the Town of Conway, at least four residents discovered that they were not on the list of registered votes. They were offered the option of providing identification, completing a “Provisional Ballot Affirmation” form, and casting a provisional ballot. Only one person took advantage of the option. If a proof of registration in Conway can be found, the ballot is added to the tally. If eligibility cannot be confirmed, the ballot will remain sealed in a provisional envelope and will be stored as part of the election record for as long as it is required to be kept and then will be destroyed without being viewed.
Three of the unregistered individuals said they registered on line and the fourth said that she registered at the Post Office. Following the election, several Clerks reported that they had similar incidents. Many potential voters went to sites like Vote.org and TurboVote, “pass-through” sites that don’t actually register voters but link to different websites and/or interface to online voter registration services. No records are retained there but the voter is given the option to go directly to their state site or pre-populate a national form that must be printed, signed, and then mailed to their local Clerk or Election Commission. Both Vote.org and TurboVote send reminders to anyone using their site about election day including the location of their polling place but this is based solely on the address the applicant provides and does not in any way confirm that they are registered to vote.
We hope this information is helpful for future elections. Remember, voter registration forms are always available at the town office. You can stop in whenever the building is open or request that a form be mailed to you.
Have You Been Sworn?
TO ALL Elected and Appointed Town Officers and Committee Members: State law provides that all elected and appointed persons acting on behalf of the residents of the town appear before the Town Clerk to be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties before taking any action related to the office that they hold. This includes persons that are re-appointed or re-elected.
Resignations must be made to the Town Clerk before they become effective.
Posting Meetings
ALL BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS must become familiar with the Open Meeting Law. Please be reminded that legally posting a meeting requires providing the town clerk with written notice of the meeting at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting date and time.
You may place your own notice on the town bulletin board providing that it contains the date and time of posting and a copy of the notice with the posting information has been provided to the clerk. The Meeting Notice (posting form) is available for your convenience.
If you need an updated copy of the law, or if you have not signed an acknowledgement indicating that you have read and understand the law, please contact the clerk.
Conflict of Interest
WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, all Elected and Appointed Town Officers and Committee members as well as town employees are required to complete on-line training provided by the State Ethics Commission and supply the clerk with a copy of their certificate of completion. The certification expires after two years and the exam must be taken again. Please contact the clerk at 369-4235 ext 4 to confirm whether or not a record of your certification is on file. Written instruction for taking the test is available in the clerk’s office.