Town Government
Ashburnham Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Ashburnham’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect the town’s wetlands and open space, oversee public health, and set property values for taxes. They are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision, and some seats, like the Planning Board and Board of Health, are elected directly by the voters.
Some members are elected town-wide and others are appointed by the Select Board, and all serve fixed terms. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development. Its members are elected, and three seats were on the 2026 ballot.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Ashburnham’s wetlands, waterways, and open space under the state Wetlands Protection Act.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, permits, and public health rules, and it is elected.
- Board of Assessors sets the property values the town taxes.
- Municipal Light Board oversees the town-owned electric utility, and its members appear on your ballot.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see ashburnham-ma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s boards and committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Select Board office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Select Board.
- Serve: attend the public meetings and help make decisions for your town.
Serving on a board is one of the most direct ways to shape Ashburnham.