Notice of

Special Election for Board of Selectmen - December 6, 2010

Town Clerk

The Town of Pepperell held a Special Town Election for Board of Selectmen on Monday, December 6, 2010 to fill the unexpired term that is set to expire at the Annual Town Election in April of 2012. This seat became available due to the resignation of Selectmen Joseph Hallissey.

The results are as follows:

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Town Clerk.

Notice of

Special Election for Board of Selectmen - December 6, 2010

Town Clerk

The Town of Pepperell will hold a Special Town Election for Board of Selectmen on Monday, December 6, 2010 to fill the unexpired term that is set to expire at the Annual Town Election in April of 2012. This seat will become avaiable due to the resignation of Selectmen Joseph Hallissey.

The deadline for registering to vote in this election is Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 8:00pm. The Town Clerk's office will be open until 8:00pm on November 16.

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Town Clerk.

Results from

Massachusetts State Election - November 2, 2010 at Varnum Brook School

Town Clerk

Print-friendly version of the above results.

Preview the Official State Ballot including the local Question 4 for Pepperell only.

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Town Clerk.

Notice of

Special Election for Board of Selectmen - December 6, 2010

Town Clerk

The Town of Pepperell will hold a Special Town Election for Board of Selectmen on Monday, December 6, 2010 to fill the unexpired term that is set to expire at the Annual Town Election in April of 2012. This seat will become avaiable due to the resignation of Selectmen Joseph Hallissey.

Nomination papers are now available at the office of the Town Clerk.
Completed nomination papers are due to the Board of Registrars no later than 5:00pm on Monday, October 18, 2010.

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Town Clerk.

Hearing Notice

Board of Selectmen

The Pepperell Board of Selectmen will hold a Public Hearing on the Classification of Taxable Real Property and the percentage of the local Property Tax Levy to be borne by each such class during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, on Monday, November 8, 2010 at 7:15 p.m. at the Pepperell Town Hall, Conference Room A, One Main Street, Pepperell, MA 01463.  A comprehensive informational package regarding the Classification of Taxable Real Property is available upon request at the Selectmen's Office at the Town Hall during normal business hours.  Written and oral comments on this matter are welcome and may be submitted or made either prior to or at the Public Hearing.

Information on Classification of Taxable Real Property

The Pepperell Board of Selectmen will hold a Public Hearing on the Classification of Taxable Real Property and the percentage of the local Property Tax Levy to be borne by each such class of property in Pepperell on Monday, November 8, 2010 at 7:15 PM at the Pepperell Town Hall.

The Classification of Taxable Real Property is authorized by the so-called Classification amendment to the Massachusetts State Constitution. The Amendment was a direct response to a court decision in 1974 which ordered all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts to value all of their taxable real property at 100% of its full and fair market value. Since many cities and towns, with a diverse mixture of properties, had established a practice of valuing Residential property at a lesser percentage of its full and fair market value than Industrial or Commercial property, the effect of this court decision was to shift the property tax burden away from Industrial and Commercial property and onto Residential properties. In larger cities in particular, the effect on Residential tax bills was dramatic and led to the passage of the Classification Amendment in 1980.

The history of assessment practices in Pepperell has been to maintain a uniform percentage of valuation of all properties, regardless of the type of use. Pepperell was one of the first communities in Massachusetts to comply with the court ordered revaluation program in 1976, moving the values of all its taxable real property to 100% valuation (full and fair market value).

As of 1993, the town re-valued taxable real property and will do so every three (3) years to maintain the full and fair market values required by law as the starting point for equitable property tax policy in Massachusetts.

The same law requires that the Selectmen hold a public hearing each year prior to the setting of the tax rate to allow residents the opportunity to present their views on whether and to what extent the Town should classify property and what percentage on the local property tax levy each should bear. In essence, the classification law allows a different tax rate for each of four classes of real property within specifically defined limits set by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Tax law has important long-term consequences for a town and the local home rule option of the classification law reflects the fact that what may be appropriate for one community may not be appropriate for another, given different mixes of property uses, citizen attitudes and local land use policies.

The four different classes of property authorized by the classification law are: Residential, Industrial, Commercial, Open Space

The Board of Selectmen encourages public participation in all matters of public interest and the Board welcomes both oral and written comments from residents and interested parties at the time of the hearing. At the hearing, a presentation will be made of all the data relevant to this decision. For more information, contact the Selectmen's or Assessors' offices during normal business hours.

Posted: Oct. 21, 2010 - 2:01pm

Open Letter from the Board of Selectmen

Regarding State Election Local Ballot Question #4

Dear Pepperell Residents,

The Statewide elections are on November 2nd and the Pepperell Board of Selectmen encourages all residents to participate in the political process and have their vote counted. It is so important for our community, state and nation that you stay engaged and vote.

Although the election is a statewide ballot, there is a question this year that is very local to the Town of Pepperell. Question 4 will ask if the Town of Pepperell, through the Board of Selectmen, should be allowed to issue a license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages on the premises of a restaurant. Presently, restaurants are allowed to sell beer and wine only.

Last year the Board of Selectmen contracted Bertram & Cochran to perform a Market Study funded by Perry Videx, the owners of the vacant Mill. Through that analysis it was determined the residents of Pepperell spend approximately $80 million outside the Town and, of that amount, we spend approximately $16 million on restaurants. By voting yes on this question, you will provide another incentive for restaurants to either stay, expand or locate their business within the Town of Pepperell thereby offering additional food options to our residents while providing much needed tax revenue to the Town. We ask for your support on Question 4 when you vote on November 2nd.

Sincerely,
Pepperell Board of Selectmen

More on the State Election or to view the ballot

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Board of Selectmen.

Notice of

Massachusetts State Election - November 2, 2010 at Varnum Brook School

Town Clerk

Notice is hereby given to the inhabitants of Pepperell who are qualified to vote in Primaries to vote at Precincts 1, 2, and 3 at the Varnum Brook Elementary School of the MASSACHUSETTS STATE ELECTION:

Tuesday, November 2, 2010, from 7:00am - 8:00pm

To cast their votes in the State Election for the candidates for the following offices:

• GOVERNOR/LT. GOVERNOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• ATTORNEY GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• SECRETARY OF STATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• TREASURER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• AUDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FIRST DISTRICT
• COUNCILLOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THIRD DISTRICT
• SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
• REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT. . . . . . . .. . . . . FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
• DISTRICT ATTORNEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . NORTHERN DISTRICT
• SHERIFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .MIDDLESEX COUNTY

QUESTION 1: LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 4, 2010?

SUMMARY This proposed law would remove the Massachusetts sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol, where the sale of such beverages and alcohol or their importation into the state is already subject to a separate excise tax under state law. The proposed law would take effect on January 1, 2011. A YES VOTE would remove the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol where their sale or importation into the state is subject to an excise tax under state law. A NO VOTE would make no change in the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol.

QUESTION 2: LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 4, 2010?

SUMMARY This proposed law would repeal an existing state law that allows a qualified organization wishing to build government-subsidized housing that includes low- or moderate-income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a city or town's zoning board of appeals (ZBA), instead of separate permits from each local agency or official having jurisdiction over any aspect of the proposed housing. The repeal would take effect on January 1, 2011, but would not stop or otherwise affect any proposed housing that had already received both a comprehensive permit and a building permit for at least one unit. Under the existing law, the ZBA holds a public hearing on the application and considers the recommendations of local agencies and officials. The ZBA may grant a comprehensive permit that may include conditions or requirements concerning the height, site plan, size, shape, or building materials of the housing. Persons aggrieved by the ZBA's decision to grant a permit may appeal it to a court. If the ZBA denies the permit or grants it with conditions or requirements that make the housing uneconomic to build or to operate, the applicant may appeal to the state Housing Appeals Committee (HAC). After a hearing, if the HAC rules that the ZBA's denial of a comprehensive permit was unreasonable and not consistent with local needs, the HAC orders the ZBA to issue the permit. If the HAC rules that the ZBA's decision issuing a comprehensive permit with conditions or requirements made the housing uneconomic to build or operate and was not consistent with local needs, the HAC orders the ZBA to modify or remove any such condition or requirement so as to make the proposal no longer uneconomic. The HAC cannot order the ZBA to issue any permit that would allow the housing to fall below minimum safety standards or site plan requirements. If the HAC rules that the ZBA's action was consistent with local needs, the HAC must uphold it even if it made the housing uneconomic. The HAC's decision is subject to review in the courts. A condition or requirement makes housing "uneconomic" if it would prevent a public agency or non-profit organization from building or operating the housing except at a financial loss, or it would prevent a limited dividend organization from building or operating the housing without a reasonable return on its investment. A ZBA's decision is "consistent with local needs" if it applies requirements that are reasonable in view of the regional need for low- and moderate-income housing and the number of low-income persons in the city or town, as well as the need to protect health and safety, promote better site and building design, and preserve open space, if those requirements are applied as equally as possible to both subsidized and unsubsidized housing. Requirements are considered "consistent with local needs" if more than 10% of the city or town's housing units are low- or moderate-income units or if such units are on sites making up at least 1.5% of the total private land zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use in the city or town. Requirements are also considered "consistent with local needs" if the application would result, in any one calendar year, in beginning construction of low- or moderate-income housing on sites making up more than 0.3% of the total private land zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use in the city or town, or on ten acres, whichever is larger. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the other parts would stay in effect. A YES VOTE would repeal the state law allowing the issuance of a single comprehensive permit to build housing that includes low- or moderate-income units. A NO VOTE would make no change in the state law allowing issuance of such a comprehensive permit.

QUESTION 3: LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 4, 2010?

SUMMARY This proposed law would reduce the state sales and use tax rates (which were 6.25% as of September 2009) to 3% as of January 1, 2011. It would make the same reduction in the rate used to determine the amount to be deposited with the state Commissioner of Revenue by non-resident building contractors as security for the payment of sales and use tax on tangible personal property used in carrying out their contracts. The proposed law provides that if the 3% rates would not produce enough revenues to satisfy any lawful pledge of sales and use tax revenues in connection with any bond, note, or other contractual obligation, then the rates would instead be reduced to the lowest level allowed by law. The proposed law would not affect the collection of moneys due the Commonwealth for sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property or services occurring before January 1, 2011. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the other parts would stay in effect. A YES VOTE would reduce the state sales and use tax rates to 3%. A NO VOTE would make no change in the state sales and use tax rates.

QUESTION 4:

Shall licenses be granted in this town for the sale of all alcoholic beverages (whiskey, rum, gin, malt beverages, wines and all other alcoholic beverages) to be drunk on the premises of restaurants?

SUMMARY The Legislature has enacted and the Governor has signed Chapter 330 of the Acts and Resolves of 2010 which would permit the licensing of restaurants in the Town of Pepperell to serve all alcoholic beverages, including distilled spirits, for consumption on the premises. Such licenses would be issued by the Board of Selectmen as licensing authority subject to the approval of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. Currently, licenses for consumption on the premises of alcoholic beverages are limited to wine and malt beverages. A yes vote on this question would allow the issuance to restaurants of licenses for service of all alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. A no vote would maintain the current limitations on issuance of licenses to wine and malt beverages only. .

Preview the Official State Ballot including the local Question 4 for Pepperell only.

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Town Clerk.

Notice of

Special Town Meeting is October 25, 2010 at 7:30pm

Town Clerk

The Town of Pepperell will hold a Special Fall Town Meeting at 7:30pm on

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING – October 25, 2010

at the Nissitissit Middle School Auditorium.

Preview the Warrant for Special Town Meeting
including Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen recommendations.

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Town Clerk.

Notice of

Registration Deadline for October 25 Special Town Meeting is October 15, 2010 at 8:00pm

Town Clerk

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Registrars of Voters will be in session FRIDAY OCTOBER 15, 2010 9:00a.m. – 8:00 p.m at the Town Clerk's Office for the purpose of registering voters and to make any necessary correction in the list of voters for the SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING – October 25, 2010

QUALIFICATIONS: An applicant for registration must be at least 18 years of age by the date of the election, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the Town of Pepperell, Massachusetts. A registered voter who chooses to adopt a new name by decree of court or as a result of marriage shall continue to be registered in his former name until June first of the following year, at which time the voter shall be registered in his new name; provided, however, that if such voter appears in person prior to the close of adoption of a new name, the registrars shall correct the current annual register so that such voter shall be registered in his new name. (M.G.L. Chapter 51, Section 2 as amended) If a qualified voter whose name was on the voters' list last year finds after close of registration that his name has been omitted from the current list by mistake or that there is a clerical error in the listing, he may apply to correct the omission or error. If the application is made on election day, he may have a certificate to vote. Call the Board of Registrars' Office, (978) 433-0339, for information:

• if you are unable because of physical disability to appear in person to register, or
• if you wish to verify your voting status.

Preview the Warrant for Special Town Meeting.

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Town Clerk.

Notice of

Registration Deadline for November 2 Special Town Meeting is October 13, 2010 at 8:00pm

Town Clerk

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Registrars of Voters will be in session FRIDAY OCTOBER 13, 2010 9:00a.m. – 8:00 p.m at the Town Clerk's Office for the purpose of registering voters and to make any necessary correction in the list of voters for the STATE ELECTION.

STATE ELECTION –November 2, 2010

To cast their votes in the State Election for the candidates for the following offices:

• GOVERNOR/LT. GOVERNOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• ATTORNEY GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• SECRETARY OF STATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• TREASURER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• AUDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR THIS COMMONWEALTH
• REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FIRST DISTRICT
• COUNCILLOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THIRD DISTRICT
• SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
• REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT. . . . . . . .. . . . . FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
• DISTRICT ATTORNEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . NORTHERN DISTRICT
• SHERIFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .MIDDLESEX COUNTY

QUESTION 1: LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 4, 2010?

SUMMARY This proposed law would remove the Massachusetts sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol, where the sale of such beverages and alcohol or their importation into the state is already subject to a separate excise tax under state law. The proposed law would take effect on January 1, 2011. A YES VOTE would remove the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol where their sale or importation into the state is subject to an excise tax under state law. A NO VOTE would make no change in the state sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol.

QUESTION 2: LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 4, 2010?

SUMMARY This proposed law would repeal an existing state law that allows a qualified organization wishing to build government-subsidized housing that includes low- or moderate-income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a city or town's zoning board of appeals (ZBA), instead of separate permits from each local agency or official having jurisdiction over any aspect of the proposed housing. The repeal would take effect on January 1, 2011, but would not stop or otherwise affect any proposed housing that had already received both a comprehensive permit and a building permit for at least one unit. Under the existing law, the ZBA holds a public hearing on the application and considers the recommendations of local agencies and officials. The ZBA may grant a comprehensive permit that may include conditions or requirements concerning the height, site plan, size, shape, or building materials of the housing. Persons aggrieved by the ZBA's decision to grant a permit may appeal it to a court. If the ZBA denies the permit or grants it with conditions or requirements that make the housing uneconomic to build or to operate, the applicant may appeal to the state Housing Appeals Committee (HAC). After a hearing, if the HAC rules that the ZBA's denial of a comprehensive permit was unreasonable and not consistent with local needs, the HAC orders the ZBA to issue the permit. If the HAC rules that the ZBA's decision issuing a comprehensive permit with conditions or requirements made the housing uneconomic to build or operate and was not consistent with local needs, the HAC orders the ZBA to modify or remove any such condition or requirement so as to make the proposal no longer uneconomic. The HAC cannot order the ZBA to issue any permit that would allow the housing to fall below minimum safety standards or site plan requirements. If the HAC rules that the ZBA's action was consistent with local needs, the HAC must uphold it even if it made the housing uneconomic. The HAC's decision is subject to review in the courts. A condition or requirement makes housing "uneconomic" if it would prevent a public agency or non-profit organization from building or operating the housing except at a financial loss, or it would prevent a limited dividend organization from building or operating the housing without a reasonable return on its investment. A ZBA's decision is "consistent with local needs" if it applies requirements that are reasonable in view of the regional need for low- and moderate-income housing and the number of low-income persons in the city or town, as well as the need to protect health and safety, promote better site and building design, and preserve open space, if those requirements are applied as equally as possible to both subsidized and unsubsidized housing. Requirements are considered "consistent with local needs" if more than 10% of the city or town's housing units are low- or moderate-income units or if such units are on sites making up at least 1.5% of the total private land zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use in the city or town. Requirements are also considered "consistent with local needs" if the application would result, in any one calendar year, in beginning construction of low- or moderate-income housing on sites making up more than 0.3% of the total private land zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use in the city or town, or on ten acres, whichever is larger. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the other parts would stay in effect. A YES VOTE would repeal the state law allowing the issuance of a single comprehensive permit to build housing that includes low- or moderate-income units. A NO VOTE would make no change in the state law allowing issuance of such a comprehensive permit.

QUESTION 3: LAW PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE PETITION

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 4, 2010?

SUMMARY This proposed law would reduce the state sales and use tax rates (which were 6.25% as of September 2009) to 3% as of January 1, 2011. It would make the same reduction in the rate used to determine the amount to be deposited with the state Commissioner of Revenue by non-resident building contractors as security for the payment of sales and use tax on tangible personal property used in carrying out their contracts. The proposed law provides that if the 3% rates would not produce enough revenues to satisfy any lawful pledge of sales and use tax revenues in connection with any bond, note, or other contractual obligation, then the rates would instead be reduced to the lowest level allowed by law. The proposed law would not affect the collection of moneys due the Commonwealth for sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property or services occurring before January 1, 2011. The proposed law states that if any of its parts were declared invalid, the other parts would stay in effect. A YES VOTE would reduce the state sales and use tax rates to 3%. A NO VOTE would make no change in the state sales and use tax rates.

QUESTION 4:

Shall licenses be granted in this town for the sale of all alcoholic beverages (whiskey, rum, gin, malt beverages, wines and all other alcoholic beverages) to be drunk on the premises of restaurants?

SUMMARY The Legislature has enacted and the Governor has signed Chapter 330 of the Acts and Resolves of 2010 which would permit the licensing of restaurants in the Town of Pepperell to serve all alcoholic beverages, including distilled spirits, for consumption on the premises. Such licenses would be issued by the Board of Selectmen as licensing authority subject to the approval of the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. Currently, licenses for consumption on the premises of alcoholic beverages are limited to wine and malt beverages. A yes vote on this question would allow the issuance to restaurants of licenses for service of all alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. A no vote would maintain the current limitations on issuance of licenses to wine and malt beverages only. .

Preview the Official State Ballot including the local Question 4 for Pepperell only.

QUALIFICATIONS: An applicant for registration must be at least 18 years of age by the date of the election, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the Town of Pepperell, Massachusetts. A registered voter who chooses to adopt a new name by decree of court or as a result of marriage shall continue to be registered in his former name until June first of the following year, at which time the voter shall be registered in his new name; provided, however, that if such voter appears in person prior to the close of adoption of a new name, the registrars shall correct the current annual register so that such voter shall be registered in his new name. (M.G.L. Chapter 51, Section 2 as amended) If a qualified voter whose name was on the voters' list last year finds after close of registration that his name has been omitted from the current list by mistake or that there is a clerical error in the listing, he may apply to correct the omission or error. If the application is made on election day, he may have a certificate to vote. Call the Board of Registrars' Office, (978) 433-0339, for information:

• if you are unable because of physical disability to appear in person to register, or
• if you wish to verify your voting status.

Preview the Official State Ballot including the local Question 4 for Pepperell only.

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Town Clerk.

State Primary Election Results

Town Clerk

Democratic Ballot

Republican Ballot

Election Notice - Debt Exclusion Election
June 21. 2010, 7:00am - 8:00pm
Varnum Brook Elemetary School

Pepperell Town Clerk

The Board of Selection, in accordance with the vote of the 2010 Annual Town Meeting, have set a ballot referendum election regarding a Proposition 2 1/2 Debt Exclusion for a new Fire Truck for Monday, June 21, 2010. The polling place shall be at the Varnum Brook Elementary School gymnasium and the polls shall be open from 7:00am-8:00pm.

Posted: May 18, 2010

Voting Results:
Yes - 223
No - 159

Annual Town Meeting Warrant

Board of Selectmen

The Warrants and Minutes for the 2010 Annual Town Meeting and Special Town meeting are now available for review. You may view the Warrants online as an html page or printable PDFs.

Annual Town Report

Board of Selectmen

The 2009 Annual Town Report is now available for review. There was no appropriation for printing the 2009 Annual Town Report this year; however, you can download the full report as a PDF document, or review it in parts as HTML pages below. Should you wish to review the printed report, you may do so at the Library, Board of Selectmen's office, or Town Clerk's office.

Public Budget Forum - Saturday, April 24 at 8:00am

Pepperell Board of Selectmen

The Pepperell Board of Selectmen and the Pepperell Finance Committee will hold a Public Forum on the Fiscal Year 2011 Town Budget on Saturday, April 24, at the Pepperell Senior Center beginning at 8:00am. The public is invited to come, ask questions, and express opinions about the Town's finances and budgetary process.

For more information, contact the Board of Selectmen.

Candidates Night at the Senior Center - April 13 at 7:00pm

Council on Aging and Nashoba Publishing

The Council on Aging and Nashoba Publishing will host a Candidates Night at the Pepperell Senior Center on April 13, 2010 at 7:00pm. This will offer a chance to meet and hear from the candidates running for office in the upcoming Annual Town Election, scheduled for April 26, 2010. There are contested races for Town Clerk, NMRSD School Committee, and Planning Board.

Public Hearing & Meeting Notices

Pepperell Board of Selectmen

Notice is hereby given that, at 7:45 PM on Monday, April 12, 2010, in Conference Room A of Town Hall, One Main Street, the Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing related to a one-year contract for renewal of the existing license between the Town and Charter Communications. Note is specifically taken that the rate structure for cable services provided by Charter are not within the purview or control of the Town, and will not be a topic of discussion at this hearing.

Questions may be directed to the office of the Board of Selectmen.

2010 Schedule for Annual Town Elections and Annual Town Meeting

Pepperell Town Clerk

The schedule for the 2010 Annual Town Election and Town Meeting will be as follows:

Town Elections:

January 4, 2010 - Nomination papers may be taken out for the offices open for election. Any registered voter (except Registrars of Voters) may take out nomination papers. The nomination papers can be obtained at the Town Clerk's Office

• Assessors - One 3-year term
• Board of Health - One 3-year term
• Board of Health - One 2-year term
• Housing Authority - One 5-year term
• Housing Authority - One 2-year term
• Library Trustee - Two positions, 3-year term
• NMRSD School Committee - One 3-year term
• Recreation Commission - One 3-year term
• Planning Board - One 5-year term
• Board of Public Works - One 3-year term
• Board of Selectmen - One 3-year term
• Town Clerk - One 3-year term

March 8, 2010, 5:00pm - The last day to submit nomination papers to the Board of Registrars for certification.

March 22, 2010, 5:00pm - Certified nomination papers must be filed with the Town Clerk.

April 6, 2010 - The last day to register to vote in the Town Election . The Clerk's office will be open from 9:00am - 8:00pm.

April 16, 2010 - The last day to post the warrant for the Annual Town Election

April 26, 2010 - Annual Town Election. Polls open from 7:00am - 8:00pm

View sample ballot

Annual Town Meeting:

April 6, 2010 - The last day to register to vote at the Town Meeting. The Clerk's office will be open from 9:00am - 8:00pm.

April 16, 2010 - The last day to post the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting

May 3, 2010 - Annual Town Meeting

For more information, please contact the Pepperell Town Clerk.

Election to Fill the Vacant US Senate Seat from Massachusetts - January 19

Pepperell Town Clerk

The State of Massachusetts will hold a special election to fill the United States Senate seat left vacate by the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. The general election to be held January 19, 2010. The polling place in Pepperell will be the Varnum Brook Middle School gymnasium. The polls will be open from 7:00am-8:00pm.

Absentee Ballots are now available at the Town Clerk's office. Voters who are disabled or know that they will be away on January 19 may apply for an Absentee Ballot and simultaneously vote during normal business hours up until noon on Friday, January 15. If you have already applied for an Absentee ballot, it will be mailed to you and must arrive back at the Town Clerk's office on Friday, January 15 by 12:00 noon or the Pepperell Post Office by 5:00pm on Election Day, January 19.