Milford Town Clerk Newsletter: January 2020

Here's the January 2020 newsletter from Milford Town Clerk Amy Neves:

Annual Street Listing/Census forms will be mailed soon

The 2020 Annual Town Census/Street Listing is being mailed soon. It’s important to return your Annual Street Listing each and every year even if there are no changes to the form, because years from now, you may need to prove that you or your children lived in Milford or resided in Massachusetts during a certain time period and the street list for that year is the proof of residency. You can return the Annual Street Listing to our office by using the enclosed envelope, by faxing your form to 508-634-2324 or by email to MilfordAnnualCensus@townofmilford.com.

What do I need to do with the form?

Please look over the names listed on the form. If there are no changes to the pre-printed information, simply sign and date the form and return it to the Town Clerk’s Office. Add any new people who reside at your address and indicate with a “M” (Moved) or “D” (Deceased) if someone has moved or passed away. Students living away at school, residents who are in a nursing home or away in the military are still considered residents of Milford and can remain on the census. Check to see that the date of birth is correct for each person and correct it if it is not. Please list a contact phone number for the household and indicate if it is public or unlisted. Please add or correct the “Occupations” column listed on the form and list what grade if a child is in school. The “Voter” column tells you what each person’s voter registration status is. “U” stands for “Unenrolled” which means not enrolled in any particular political party. This is what most people mean when they say “Independent”. Other designations are: “D” for Democrat or “R” for Republican and if there is no letter in the “Voter” column means the person is not registered to vote in Milford. If you are a voter and wish to make any changes to your voter information on the street list, you would need to sign the bottom of the form in order for the change to be processed. No changes to voter information can be made without the voter’s signature. To register to vote you need to complete a Voter Registration Form. Please call the Town Clerk’s Office if you need one or you can download one from our website (www.milfordma.gov).

What happens if I don’t return the form?

Registered voters who do not return the Annual Street List Form and do not respond to a follow-up mailing will be designated an “Inactivate” voter on the street/voter list. Such persons will only be eligible to vote after they fill out an “Affirmation of Current and Continuous Residence” the next time they come to vote. Every household that fails to complete the form has to be contacted a second time, which takes additional time, paper and postage.

Last year I indicated that someone moved out, so why are they are still on the form?

Town Clerk’s Office
Town Hall Room 12
52 Main Street • Milford, MA 01757
Ph: (508) 634-2307 • Fax: (508) 634-2324
aneves@townofmilford.com
Amy E. Hennessy Neves, Town Clerk

A registered voter who moves and does not register to vote in another community cannot be removed from our street list until they have not voted in two consecutive biennial state elections (which may be why you may have told us someone moved but they still appear on your form). If you have a forwarding or new address for these individuals, please provide their new address to us so we can mail them paperwork to be removed or you can tell them to register in their new MA community. When they do, their name will be removed from our records.

Who should complete the street list form?

Any adult residing in the home can complete and sign the form.

2020 Federal Census forms

Invitations to respond to the 2020 Federal Census will be send to all households in Milford in March 2020. Workers have been out and about doing address canvasing around Milford in 2019. The Federal Census is a headcount of everyone living in the United States; this includes people of all ages, backgrounds, citizens and non-citizens. The count is done every 10 years. It is very important to answer the census because this information is used to distribute federal funding to cities and towns across the U.S. The questionnaire will not ask you for your social security number, it will not ask you for your bank account or credit card numbers, and they will not ask for money or donations. Your personal information is protected by law and is never released to any other local, state, or federal agencies (Title 13 of the U.S. Code.) Your individual Census responses will not affect your tax status or your insurance premiums. Census data affects your community. Census data determines federal funding to Medicare and Medicaid, MassHealth, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and several Health Center programs. The data collected by the U.S. Census will determine your political representation for the next 10 years at the local, state, and federal levels. Responding to the Census is easy. You can respond to the U.S. Census online and over the phone in 13 languages, or wait for the paper form to be mailed to you. A reminder letter will be sent to you by the end of March if you have not yet responded. Starting in May non-respondent addresses will receive an in-person visit. For more information, please go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website www.sec.state.ma.us/census2020.

The Federal Census is also hiring. Go to https://2020census.gov/en/jobs... if you are interested in working for the Federal Census.

Town Election

Nomination papers have been available since Monday, January 6, 2020 for all Elected Offices, including Town Meeting Members. The following offices are on the April 7, 2020 ballot and the following people are up for re-election:

(1) Selectman (3 year term)
Amy E. Hennessy Neves, Town Clerk (3 year term)
Scott J. Crisafulli, Highway Surveyor (3 year term)
Joseph F. Niro, Board of Assessor (3 year term)
Leonard A. Izzo Sr., Board of Health (3 year term)
Edward Bertorelli, Library Trustee (3 year term)
Paul Braza, Park Commissioner (3 year term)
Marble M. Mainini III, Planning Board (5 year term)
Thomas J. Morelli, Sewer Commissioner (3 year term)
Michael J. Noferi, Town Moderator (3 year term)
Jennifer Parson, School Committee (3 year term)
Joseph E. Callery, School Committee (3 year term)
Michael A. Diorio, Housing Authority (5 year term)
Henry M. Shahnamian, Trustee of Vernon Grove Cemetery (3 year term)
(1) Trustee of Vernon Grove Cemetery (3 year term)
Charles E. Reneau, Tree Warden/Gypsy Moth Superintendent (3 year term)
(1) 4 year seat, Housing Authority and (1) 3 year term seat for Library Trustee
Town Meeting Members, Precincts 1-8 (Various terms)

If you are interested in running for an elected position, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office regarding nomination papers. Nomination papers are available until 5:00 pm on February 13, 2020.