General Information

Current Town Clerk:  Jane M. Phinney

Elected:  May 2006, for a 3rd term

Term of Office:  3 years

Hours:

 Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 Saturdays:  10 a.m. to noon.

 Tuesday evenings: By pre-arrangement*

 All other times by appointment only.

Location of Office:  720 Main Road, Savoy, MA 01256

Fax:  (413) 743-4292

Phone:  (413) 743-3759

E-mail: townofsavoy@verizon.net

Annual Town Meeting: 2nd Wednesday  in May

Town Elections:  3rd Wednesday  in May

Census Survey:  January/February

Dog Licensing:  January through April

Fees and Fines

Birth, Marriage and Death records of the town's residents are kept in the Town Clerk's office.  Copies of those records are available to most people.  (There are restrictions on out of wedlock births, suspicious deaths).  There is a fee for certified copies of these records.

Certified copy of birth/marriage/death record:  $5.00 each

Filing for Intent to Marry:  $10.00

Burial Permit (body removal):  $10.00

Grave Opening: $150.00

Dog Licenses

All dogs and cats must be vaccinated against the Rabies Virus in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Only dogs need licenses in Savoy.

Fees:

Unaltered dogs (male or female):  $10.00

Neutered and spayed dogs:  $5.00

Kennel Licenses:

        4 dogs or less:  $25.00

        10 or less:  $50.00

        Over 10 dogs:  $100.00

Dogs must be licensed by April 1st of each year.  Licensing for the year begins on January 1st.  A late fee of $1 per dog ,per week will be enforced starting April 30th.  The names of owners with unlicensed pets will be turned over to the Dog Officer.  Delinquent owners stand the chance of a court appearance.

Dog licenses can be purchased through the Town Clerk's Office during her hours or requests can be made by mail.  A valid and current copy of the rabies certificate must accompany your request.  No dog license will be issued without proof of the rabies vaccination.

The town of Savoy does not have a leash law, but it does require the restraining of an animal by its owner.  If there are complaints against a pet, fines will be enforced.

Non-restraint of Dog:

        First Offense:  $25.00

        Second and Subsequent Offenses:  $100.00

Complaints about dogs should be directed to Dog Officer, or Selectboard

Voter Registration

Registration forms can be picked up at the Town Office anytime.  To register to vote, you only need to fill out the form. You can also register to vote at the Registry of Motor Vehicles when you get a driver's license or renew one.  The information from the RMV is transmitted to your local Town Clerk's office by computer.  When the information is received by the clerk, a confirmation will be mailed to you.  If you have not heard from the Town Clerk as to your voting status, it would be wise to check it out.  Computers are wonderful, but sometime there are glitches and information does not get through.

History of the Town Clerk   

In Massachusetts, the town clerk was one of the earliest offices established and is probably one of the oldest in municipal government.  The settlers were well aware of the importance of keeping accurate written records on land agreements, regulations governing animals, the collection of taxes, and the expenditure of town funds.  One of the earliest statutory duties imposed by the General Court on town clerks was that of recording births, deaths, and marriages.  By 1692, the town clerk was required to enter the record divisions of land and orders of the selectmen as well as all town votes, orders, and grants.  The town clerk was often responsible for sweeping the Meeting House , ringing the bell and warning town meetings, paying the bounty for jays and blackbirds whose heads were presented to him by citizens, and most of all, to enter and record all actions "ordered by the inhabitants"  of the town.  Today, the clerk has many varied duties and hundreds of sections of the General Laws relate to Town Clerks.  The Massachusetts Town Clerk serves as the Public Information and Legislative Administrator, Chief Election Officer, and Local Registrar of Vital Records and Statistics.  The Town Clerk is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the appropriate process, notification and procedure is adhered to in the making of legislative policy by the town, and of managing public access to this information. (source:  The Massachusetts Town Clerk's Manual)