Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Selectboard and the School Committee, much of Cummington’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and open space, weigh in on historic places, and guide services for residents. In a town with no appointed administrator, these rooms are where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Some boards are appointed by the Selectboard, permanent and ad hoc. Many others are elected directly on the town ballot: the Board of Assessors, the Board of Health, the Planning Board, the Municipal Light Plant Board, the Water Commissioners, the Finance Committee, and the Trustees of the Bryant Free Library, along with the Town Clerk and the Moderator. In Cummington you can be appointed to some of these seats, and you can simply run for the others.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Municipal Light Plant Board governs the town-owned broadband and fiber utility that Town Meeting chartered. Elected.
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development. Elected.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Cummington’s wetlands, streams, and open space.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget line by line and advises Town Meeting on spending. Elected.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, the transfer station, and public health rules. Elected.
- Agricultural Commission supports the town’s farms and farm land.
- Historical Commission looks after the town’s historic places, including the Kingman Tavern museum.
- Water Commissioners and the Trustees of the Bryant Free Library run the water system and the library, and both are elected.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the boards index at cummington-ma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening by asking the Selectboard office about appointed vacancies, or watch the Annual Town Meeting warrant for elected seats.
- Reach out: contact the Selectboard office at 413-634-5439 or selectboard@cummington-ma.gov to express interest.
- Await appointment by the Selectboard, or take out nomination papers with the Town Clerk and run for an elected seat.
- 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 Cummington.