Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Heath’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 Select Board, permanent and ad hoc. Others are elected on the town ballot, among them the Board of Assessors, the Board of Health, the Planning Board, the Cemetery Commission, the Library Trustees, and the Municipal Light Board. In Heath you can be appointed to some of these seats, and you can simply run for the others.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Heath’s wetlands, streams, and open space.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget line by line and advises Town Meeting on spending.
- Board of Health oversees inspections and public health rules. Elected.
- Board of Assessors sets property values and hears abatements. Elected.
- Agricultural Commission supports the town’s farms and farm land.
- Historical Commission weighs in on the town’s historic places.
- Municipal Light Board governs the town’s own fiber broadband network. Elected.
- Cemetery Commission, Library Trustees, Cultural Council, and the Council on Aging look after the town’s grounds, library, arts grants, and older residents.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the boards index at townofheath.org.
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 Select Board, 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 Heath.