Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, much of Rowe’s governing happens on boards and commissions. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, protect the town’s wetlands and the Deerfield River, look after Pelham Lake Park and the cemeteries, and advise Town Meeting on the budget. In a town this small they are where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Here is the fact worth knowing: Rowe elects far more of these offices than most towns appoint. The Board of Assessors, the Board of Health, the Planning Board, the Finance Committee, the Cemetery Commission, the Park Commission, the Library Trustees, and more are all filled by town-wide vote, which means a Rowe resident can simply run for a working office.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and land use, with members elected to five-year terms.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Rowe’s wetlands, the Deerfield River, and open space.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget and advises Town Meeting on spending.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, the transfer station, and public health rules.
- Park Commission manages Pelham Lake Park, the town’s largest public asset.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see rowe-ma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening, whether it is an elected seat on the town ballot or an appointed vacancy on the town’s boards page.
- Run or apply. For an elected seat, take out nomination papers from the Town Clerk. For an appointed seat, send a letter of interest to the Board of Selectmen office.
- Take your seat after the election or the appointment.
- 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 Rowe.