Please be advised, the telephone number for contacting Waste Management for scheduling a bulk item for pick-up has changed.  508-836-5600 is no longer in service.  The new number is:  1-800-972-4545

The Jan 19, 2010 Special State Election has been certified with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.  Please see attachment for results.

Tara M. Ward, CMC/CMMC
Ashland Town Clerk

The Registry of Motor Vehicles has released the first batch of motor vehicle excise bills for passenger vehicles registered as of January 1. Vehicles registered after January 1, as well as trucks, motorcycles, and trailers will be billed separately at a later date. If your car was registered as of January 1 and you have not received your bill, please contact the Collector’s office at 508-881-0100 ext. 621.



As payments are considered made when received by the Collector it is important to allow ample time for mailing. If a motor vehicle excise bill is not timely paid, interest accrues at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date the payment is due until it is paid. A $30 late fee also applies to delinquent accounts. A bill which has been mailed to the address of record is presumed to have been received and therefore, the Collector cannot waive penalties for failure to receive a bill.



For efficient processing, it is recommended that taxpayers utilize the enclosed lockbox envelope which directs payments to an automated processing center. Alternatively, payments may be made on-line at www.ashlandmass.com. For taxpayers who prefer to pay in person, it would be helpful to pay via check, payable to the Town of Ashland, for the exact amount due.



The Collector’s office is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For the convenience of taxpayers, there is also an outside lock box at Town Hall for taxpayers who would like pay their bills after hours.


Treasurer / Collector for more information or questions.

Nomination papers for the May 18, 2010 Annual Town Election will be available at the Town Clerk's Office beginning Jan 26.  The candidate must pick up their own papers as they must sign for them. We ask that you obtain more than the 50 signatures required so (2) papers will be provided to each candidate.  The deadline to return the papers is Tuesday March 30.  Please see me with any questions and I will assist you.

Thank you,
Tara M. Ward, CMC/CMMC
Ashland Town Clerk 

Effective Monday, February 1st, 2010 the cost of the Town of Ashland official Pay-As-You-Throw orange trash bags will be as follows:

• Small bags (14 gal.) will be $5.25 per roll per roll of 5 bags.

• Large bags (33 gal.) will be $9.00 per roll of 5 bags.

Further cost adjustments have been made regarding Rubbish/Recycling:

• Regular base fee (billed annually) will increase from $138.00 per household to $156.00 per household **Effective FY11 to be billed 8/2010**

• Senior (abated) base fee (billed annually) will increase from $48.00 per household to $86.00 per household **Effective FY11 to be billed 8/2010**

For more information:
RUBBISH & RECYCLING

(ASHLAND, MA) Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills for FY 2010 have been mailed to Ashland property owners. The bill has two payment coupons to be returned with payments due on February 1, 2010 and May 3, 2010, respectively. Please contact the Collector’s office if you have not received your bill. 



Property owners are reminded to allow ample time for mailing as payments are considered made when received by the Collector. A payment mailed on or before the due date, but received by the Collector after that date, is late and subject to interest charges because, unlike federal and state income taxes, there is no statute which allows for a post mark in order to avoid interest. Massachusetts law requires that late payments accrue interest at the rate of 14% per year. 




For efficient processing, it is recommended that taxpayers utilize the enclosed envelope which directs payments an automated payment processing center. Alternately, taxpayers can utilize an on-line payment system located at www.ashlandmass.com. For taxpayers who prefer to pay in person, it would be helpful to pay via check, payable to the Town of Ashland, for the exact amount due. 




The Collector’s office is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Town Hall is closed on Friday. 

Census Forms 2010

The Law requires that the Annual Town Census forms will be mailed to each household every year.  This year 2010 we will send out (7,500 of them) the last week in December.  A full and accurate count of all residents is very important for many reasons including the basis for allocation of State and Federal Funds. Even a few late returns hold up the completion of the new street list, as well as the up-to-date voting list. Follow-up is costly and may include a second mailing.  Please help us avoid additional census costs!  

Please fill out the information and return it to the Town Clerk’s office within 10 days.  It is important to remember that the Census form DOES NOT REGISTER YOU TO VOTE!

Thank you,

Tara M. Ward,Town Clerk