Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Selectboard and the School Committee, much of Gosnold’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, protect the shoreline and open space, manage the harbor, and guide public health. In a town with no appointed administrator, these rooms are where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision, and in a town this small a single resident who shows up can make the difference on a whole board.
Some boards are appointed by the Selectboard, and others are elected on the town ballot. In Gosnold you can be appointed to some of these seats, and you can simply run for the others, which is a real opportunity in a town where seats are not always contested.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews land use, site plans, and development on the islands.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Gosnold’s wetlands, shoreline, and open space.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget line by line and advises Town Meeting on spending.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, solid waste, and public health rules.
- Harbor Management sets the rules for the moorings, berths, and the working waterfront.
- Electric Light oversees the town’s municipal electric service on Cuttyhunk.
- Gosnold-Cuttyhunk Climate Action Network works on the island’s response to a changing shoreline and climate.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the boards index at gosnold-ma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s Appointments and Vacancies page, or watch the ballot for elected seats.
- Apply online: the town posts an Online Application for Boards and Committees.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Selectboard, or take out nomination papers with the Town Clerk and run.
- 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 Gosnold.