Town Government
Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department, not an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. Under Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2018, the Town Manager appoints these department heads, which is why none of their names appears on a ballot and why the Town Manager is the person the Select Board holds responsible for all of them.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most, with the head the town names on its own site. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit the town’s Departments page. Town Hall is at 1 Main Street.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, the town census, and elections. Town Clerk Susan E. Copeland. 978-772-8220. |
|---|---|
| Public Works | Streets, water, snow plowing, and the town’s infrastructure. Director of Public Works Dan Van Schalkwyk. 978-772-8220. |
| Police | Public safety and non-emergency response. Police Chief Brian Gill and Deputy Chief Jennifer Bigelow. 978-772-8200. 54 Park Street. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, prevention, and emergency medical response. Fire Chief Timothy Johnston. 978-772-8231. 1 West Main Street. |
| Council on Aging | The Senior Center, outreach, and programs for older residents. Director Katie Petrossi. 978-772-8260. 18 Pond Street. |
| Ayer Library | The town’s public library, part of the CW MARS network. Library Director Luke Kirkland. 978-772-8250. 26 East Main Street. |
Emergencies are 911. For non-emergencies, the Police are at 978-772-8200 and the Fire Department is at 978-772-8231. Dispatch is handled by the Ayer-Shirley Regional Emergency Communication Center.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.