Town Government
Royalston Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Royalston’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 Select Board, permanent and ad hoc. Others are elected on the town ballot: the April 2025 Annual Town Election filled seats on the Board of Assessors, Board of Health, Planning Board, and Library Trustees, among others. In Royalston 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 Royalston’s wetlands, streams, and open space.
- Finance (Advisory) 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 Committee supports the town’s farms and farm land.
- Historic District Commission weighs in on the town’s historic places and the town common.
- Community Preservation Committee recommends how the town spends its Community Preservation funds on open space, historic sites, and housing.
- Open Space & Recreation Committee looks after the fields, trails, and protected land near Royalston’s waterfalls and Tully Lake.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the Boards & Committees index at royalston-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 Select Board, 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 Royalston.