Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Marshfield’s governing happens on more than thirty volunteer boards and commissions. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect the wetlands and the five miles of coastline, weigh in on historic places, and guide services for residents. They are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Many members are appointed by the Select Board and serve fixed terms, and the meetings are public. Marshfield is unusual in how many boards it elects outright: the ballot fills the Board of Assessors, the Board of Health, the Board of Public Works, the Planning Board, the Housing Board of Commissioners and the Trustees of the Veterans Memorial, as well as the Select Board, School Committee, Moderator and Town Clerk.
There is also a lever most residents never hear about. Under Charter Article 7-1, a petition signed by twenty-five registered voters and filed with the Town Clerk forces any board, commission or committee to hold a special meeting within two weeks on the subject you name.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, zoning amendments, and major development. Its members are elected.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits, at 870 Moraine Street, (781) 834-5557.
- Conservation Commission protects Marshfield’s wetlands, rivers, dunes and open space, (781) 834-5573.
- Advisory Board gives Town Meeting independent analysis of the budget, capital projects and municipal policy. Nine members serve three-year overlapping terms.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, septic and well permits, and public health rules. Its members are elected.
- Board of Public Works oversees the DPW, which is the one large department that does not answer to the Select Board. Its three members are elected.
- Historical Commission is the official town historical body, seven members appointed to three-year terms. It administers the demolition delay bylaw and cares for town-owned historic property, including Daniel Webster’s law office.
- ADA Committee works on equal access across the town.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the town’s Boards and Commissions directory. The Select Board also posts a board and committee application for residents who want a seat.
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 Marshfield.