Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Shutesbury’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, protect the town’s wetlands and open space, weigh in on historic places, and guide services for residents. They are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision, and in a town this size a single volunteer can make a real difference.
Most members are elected at Town Meeting or appointed by the Select Board and serve fixed terms. The Town Moderator, an elected officer, appoints the seven members of the Finance Committee and the three members of the Personnel Board. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and land use.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Shutesbury’s wetlands, streams, and open space.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget and advises Town Meeting on spending, with seven members appointed by the Town Moderator.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, septic and well permits, and public health rules.
- Board of Assessors sets property values and handles exemptions and abatements.
- Historical Commission looks after the town’s historic places and records.
- Municipal Light Plant Board oversees the town-owned ShutesburyNET fiber utility.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s boards and committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Select Board office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Select Board or the Moderator.
- 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 Shutesbury.