The Committee to Elect Cathy Harder-Bernier

Bill Cass, Chairman,

Daniel Bernier, Treasurer

Joe DeFerrari, Website Adminstrator

143 Maplewood Drive
Hanover, MA  02339

Email: cathyhb@comcast.net

Or use our contact form.

As Town Clerk, I like to connect with my fellow Hanoverians as much as possible. Check out our News page to see the latest.

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(See Cathy's most recent accomplishments as Town Clerk for the Town of Hanover, MA.)

Elections - "Bringing Democracy to Residents"

• Ran elections in May, September, and November, and a recount in November
• Increased election staff (due to previous interviews) in order to meet state requirements and insure accuracy at the polls
• Instituted and revised “clerk report” and related election recordkeeping
• With Chief of Police, developed guidelines to clarify the role of the detail officer at elections
• Held first ever Hanover High School Mock Election; raised awareness to encourage life-long voting habits; increased regular election turnout
• Attended numerous election trainings, brought election staff to a training in Carver for the first time last summer
• Scheduled first ever election training for poll workers in Hanover –will be held next month

Census

• Residents who previously were deleted from census AND voter registration lists are now made inactive voters
• Residents who were previously deleted from voter registration lists in error are allowed to vote provisionally
• Population data is now in an electronic format

Death Records

• Participated in numerous trainings and webinars regarding the Commonwealth’s new Electronic Death Record System (EDRS)
• Successfully implemented and now manage the EDRS so that burial permits are now available 24/7 to funeral parlors around the state
• Records are also now more accurate and there are fewer time-consuming amendments

Business Certificates

• Recently hired a senior tax work-off program plan participant to perform data entry of thousands of business “Doing Business As” (DBA) records
• Goal is to clean up index card business DBA records, make them electronic, and mail merge letters to businesses without current DBA’s
• Project should raise thousands of dollars for the town
• Also designed a new DBA amendment form to assist companies changing owners or discontinuing at a location

Dog Licenses

• Analyzed dog license compliance –32.6% in 2012, 32.8% in 2013, 40.2% in 2014Will reduce late fees this spring
• Hope to make licensing period one month shorter next year so that urgency reduces forgetfulness and residents don’t have to wait in lines due to administrative overload in office in late April
• Continue to advocate to make it possible to renew dog licenses on-line through the Uni-bank system
• Revised kennel license procedures to make them consistent with new state law and also user-friendly for kennel owners
• Hope to make dog license fees by-law issues consistent with rest of town’s fees with article on warrant

Flammables Registration

• Worked with Deputy Fire Chief and Town Manager to begin clean up of flammables licenses and related registrations thereby streamlining files and processes for those who need it

Town's Website

• Continued to update the Town Clerk’s section of the Town’s website
• New information now appears regarding:
  • Business DBA certificates
  • Conflict of Interest Law and Ethics training
  • Campaign finance reports for ALL candidates regardless of expenditure level
  • Changes to the Open Meeting Laws

Open Meeting Law

• Suggested and drafted the policy that designated the Town’s website as an “alternate meeting posting location” and that was approved by the Selectmen in August 2014
• Designated dozens of new “web page administrators” and developed written training material for them
• Worked closely with Computer Coordinator to insure all committees could access the website
• Held an in-person group training session for all employees and volunteer web page administrators, continue to offer multiple webinars
• Added a computer kiosk outside the Town Clerk’s Office that is available during normal business hours for those without current computer access
• As of January 1st, 2015 townspeople may now access meeting notices and agendas on-line 24/7
• Working with the new Attorney General’s Office to hold the first training in recent memory regarding the Open Meeting Law on April 1, 2015

Conflict of Interest Law

• Developed conflict of interest law tracking database
• Changed timing of conflict of interest compliance to align with the rest of the Commonwealth
• Currently collecting hundreds of 2015 compliance documents

Document Preservation

• Worked with Curry College intern all summer 2014 who identified and cataloged the town’s microfiche vital and historic records
• Worked with volunteers to apply for Patrick Administration Community Innovation Challenge grant, but application was denied
• Disposed of costly ancient time and date stamp and procured stamp that will pay for itself in 2 and ½ years
• Attended trainings to learn more about “best practices” for record storage
• Recently received quote to retro-fit one of the town’s jail cells so that it can be used as a climate controlled storage location for town’s most precious and historic records

Cash Management

• Worked with Finance Director to implement locked individual cash drawers, thereby increasing security of cash on hand as well as accountability for transactions
• Participated in training to learn Softrightfinancial software

Professional Development

• Represented Hanover at three statewide Massachusetts Town Clerk’s Association conferences this past year –Falmouth, Springfield and Devens
• Attended educational seminars and other continuing education programs, thereby earning credits toward Certified Massachusetts Municipal Clerk and Certified Municipal Clerk status while there
• Attended two Tri-County Clerk’s training sessions
• Obtained Notary Public designation