Town Government
Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department, not an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. In Oakham the departments answer to the elected Board of Selectmen, and much of the work is overseen by boards the voters elect directly.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit the town’s department directory at oakham-ma.gov. Most town offices are at the Oakham Town Hall, 2 Coldbrook Road, and office hours vary by department.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, the town census, and elections, from Town Hall, Unit 4. Office hours Mondays 2:00 to 7:00 PM. 508-882-5549 extension 4. |
|---|---|
| Highway Department | Roads, snow plowing, and road repair, from 178B Barre Road. 508-882-5556. |
| Police Department | Public safety and non-emergency response, from the Public Safety Complex at 178 Barre Road. Police Chief Frederick J. Gehring. 508-886-4033; emergencies 911. |
| Fire Department | Fire suppression, prevention, and rescue, from 178A Barre Road. Fire Chief Timothy Howe. 508-882-5218; emergencies 911. |
| Council on Aging | Programs, outreach, and transportation for older residents. Director Rick Hendra. 508-882-4073. |
| Fobes Memorial Library | Books, programs, computers, and a card that works at libraries across Massachusetts, from the town’s fieldstone library at 4 Maple Street. Library Director Lauren Koblara Kostantin. 508-882-4074. |
| Treasurer / Collector | Tax bills and town funds. Treasurer-Collector Sara Hunter. 508-882-5549 extension 3. |
| Board of Assessors | Property values and abatements, under a board the voters elect. Principal Assessor Diane Peterson. 508-882-5549 extension 5. |
| Building Commissioner | Building permits and inspections. Building Commissioner Robert Lanciani. 508-882-5549 extension 7. |
| Town Accountant | Town finances and the annual audit. Town Accountant Laurie Bartkus. 508-882-5549 extension 2. |
| Board of Health | Inspections, health complaints, and trash and recycling, under a board of three the voters elect, with shared inspection services through the Town of Leicester Board of Health, 508-892-7008. |
| Veterans’ Services | Benefits and services for veterans and their families. Veterans Service Officer Holly Kularski. 508-882-5549 extension 1. |
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.