Town Government
Phillipston Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, much of Phillipston’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 Board of Selectmen, permanent and ad hoc. Others are elected on the town ballot: the town elects the Board of Assessors, the Board of Health, the Planning Board, the Cemetery Commission, and the Library Trustees, along with the Moderator, the Tax Collector, and a Constable. In Phillipston 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. Elected.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Phillipston’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, trash and recycling, and public health rules. Elected.
- Agricultural Commission supports the town’s farms and farm land.
- Community Preservation Committee recommends how the town spends its Community Preservation Act money on open space, historic sites, recreation, and housing.
- Historical Commission weighs in on the town’s historic places, including the Phillipston Center Historic District.
- Council on Aging and the Parks and Recreation Committee look after older residents and the town’s fields and recreation land.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the Boards and Committees index at phillipston-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 Board of Selectmen, 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 Phillipston.