Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Northfield’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They set property values, hear zoning appeals, protect the wetlands and the Connecticut River corridor, guide the library, and weigh in on the farms that still work the valley soil. They are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Some members are elected town-wide, such as the Board of Health and the Board of Assessors, and many are appointed by the Select Board to fixed terms. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Board of Assessors sets property values, grants exemptions, and helps set the tax rate.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, septic rules, and public health, with five members elected town-wide.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Northfield’s wetlands, river frontage, and open space.
- Agricultural Commission supports the farms that have worked the valley for generations.
- Board of Sewer Commissioners oversees the town’s sewer system.
- Board of Library Trustees governs the Dickinson Memorial Library.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see northfieldma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s government and committees pages.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Select Board office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Select Board, or run for an elected board on the annual ballot.
- 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 Northfield.