Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Charlemont’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, protect the wetlands and open space, advise on the budget, support farming and the arts, and guide services for older residents. They are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision, and in a town this size a single volunteer can carry real weight.
Most members are appointed by the Select Board and serve fixed terms. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and land use.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Charlemont’s wetlands, brooks, and open space along the Deerfield River.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget and advises Town Meeting on spending, chaired by Amy Wales.
- Board of Health oversees inspections and public health rules, with services delivered regionally through the FRCOG Cooperative Public Health Service.
- Agriculture Commission supports the town’s working farms and rural character.
- Broadband Committee guides the town-owned Municipal Light Plant and its fiber network.
- Council on Aging runs outreach and programs for older residents, and the Capital Planning Committee plans for big-ticket town purchases.
- Historical Commission looks after the town’s historic places and records.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see charlemont-ma.us.
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 Charlemont.