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 - "Delivering Democracy to Residents"

• Ran 1 election between March 2017 –March 2018: May Annual Town Election 2017
• Progress regarding  purchase of new voting machines is on-going.  Currently certified  technology (2 machines) is already 7-11 years old and is very slow.  May be worth waiting for Clear Ballot’s new technology  that was federally certified  in February 2018.  Their next step is state certification,  which includes an in-house demonstration at the SOC and piloting at two towns (including Hanover).
• Got caught up on reports – Journals for September 2016 State Primary, September 2016 Special Town Meeting, October 2016 Special Town Election, November 2016 Early Voting and State Election, May 2017 Special Town Meeting, May 2017 Annual Town Meeting, May 2017 Annual Town Election, and the June 2017 Special Town Meeting all posted on-line and submitted for Town Report

Elections - "Professionalization of the Polls"

• Developed and led “Teller Training” to ensure perfect end-of-evening counting procedures; 3 out of 10 races in 2016 Town Election were decided by write-in winners

Voter fraud, registration, and early voting

• Lobbied SOC to promote legislation that would allow Massachusetts inclusion in Pew Trust’s Electronic Registration Information Center to reduce potential for voter fraud
• As member of MTCA Legislative Committee, advocated for an ERIC bill that now has over 100 sponsors in Senate and House, and that would also allow for automatic registration in 2021 and new cost-effective measures related to early voting
• Potential for early voting in August 2018 will result in significant overtime costs over Labor Day weekend

Poll pads

• Available for use at a Town Meeting or Early Voting for years, but not certified for elections in MA yet
• Municipal Modernization Act –August 2016 –use of poll pads at elections planned
• Demo’ed LHS’s KNOWiNKpoll pads May 2017 ATM
• Demo’ed Electec’s Advocate laptop poll pads December 2017 STM
• Will demo Electec’s Advocate iPad version in May 2018
• KNOWiNK= $7,950; Advocate = $5,250
• Waiting for SOC to certify poll pad use for elections before purchasing
• Need to buy them this fiscal year because FY’19 budget has been cut
• Anticipate significant staff time reduction and related reduction in costs over long haul

Business certificates

• Goals –consumer protection for residents; increased revenue for town
• In November 2015, began large-scale effort to clean-up and solicit business registrations
• 126 new businesses in last two months of 2015 ($5,040 new revenue)
• 160 new businesses in 2016 ($6,400 new revenue)
• 235 new businesses in 2017 ($9,400 new revenue)
• Another mailing in March 2018 -on-going, thanks to addition of one day a week intern this winter

Dog and kennel licences

• Public health goal –increase dog licensing legal compliance to ensure dogs are vaccinated for rabies and residents are safe from disease
• Updated kennel license fee structure at 2017 Annual Town Meeting with support of AdComm
• Issued 806 total licenses in 2015, 1065 in 2016, and 1133 in 2017

Document preservation

• Long-term goal –to preserve the Town’s historic records for all to appreciate, research and enjoy
• Next step –create a climate controlled environment in the basement of Town Hall or some other area
• CPC funds are available
• Project is now in the hands of the facilities department; no progress since Summer 2015

Public records

• Goal is to improve public access to records
• Town Manager’s Office purchased public records database software in early 2017; it has not been implemented as of 3/1/18
• Latest in-office effort has been to make voter lists and voter activity reports with unique identifiers available to candidates for public office

Raffle permits

• Attended training in June 2017
• Updated raffle permit files, processes, directions as a result
• Reached out to several organizations who were running raffles in 2017-2018 to ensure compliance with the law and protect residents in those organizations from personal liability for non-compliance

Town Clerk as back-up to part-time Veteran's Agent

• Recent debate over part or full time status of Veteran’s Agent identified previously unknown role for Town Clerk as back-up to Agent
• Researched law, consulted Veteran’s Agent
• Developed resource documents that will help to provide information to veterans and families of veterans in need

Vital records access

• Goal is to balance easy access to records with strong prevention of identity theft/protection for residents
• Updated in-house marriage and death indexes
• Visits to MA State Archives and MA Registry of Vital Records in Summer 2017
• Updated website genealogy section to aid researchers
• Updated website vital record section to allow residents overnight access to vital records when Town Clerk’s Office is closed
• Re-affirmed in-house current procedures to obtain vital records (show license, paper trail)

Board and Commissions tracking

• After advocating for improvements to this process for over a year, Acting Town Manager will purchase related software in March 2018
• New software will allow tracking of appointments, conflict of interest training, oaths of office, receipt of open meeting law
• Employee records regarding conflict of interest law receipt and training completion will now be kept by payroll office

Professional Development

• Goal is to keep current and ensure Hanover is well-led and abreast of current laws
• Attended Tri-County Clerk’s Association training sessions
• Represented Hanover at three statewide Massachusetts Town Clerk’s Association conferences –Plymouth and Springfield in 2017; Devensin 2018.
• Attended New England Municipal Clerk’s Institute in July 2017 –first of three years toward Certified Municipal Clerk status
• Serve on State-wide Massachusetts Town Clerk’s Association Executive Board, 2ndof 3 year term
• Appointed member of MTCA Legislative Committee as of January 2018