Town Government
Townsend Select Board
About the Board
The Select Board is the chief executive body of Townsend, elected town-wide so that every voter helps choose all of it. At the April 27, 2026 Annual Town Election voters passed Question 1 to grow the board from three seats to five, each a three-year term on a staggered schedule that puts a couple of seats on the ballot each spring. The board sets town policy, signs the warrants that decide what Town Meeting gets to vote on, appoints residents to many town boards, and hires and supervises the Town Administrator who runs the town day to day. When a daily problem becomes town policy, this is the room where it happens.
- Sets policy and direction for the whole town.
- Hires the Town Administrator and holds that office accountable.
- Controls the warrant, deciding what business reaches Town Meeting for a vote.
Board Members
Three of the five seats are filled today. Valerie Goodrich serves as Chair, Laura Shifrin as Vice-Chair, and Sarah Logan as Clerk. The two seats created when voters expanded the board are vacant, and Townsend fills them at a Town Special Election on October 6, 2026. After each election the board reorganizes and chooses its own officers.
Valerie Goodrich
Laura Shifrin
Sarah Logan
The town routes contact to board members through the Select Board office, which can be reached at (978) 597-1700. Member listings and email addresses are posted at townsendma.gov.
Meetings & How to Participate
- When: the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6:00 PM in the Select Board Chambers, Upper Level of Town Hall, 272 Main Street. The town posts each agenda in advance.
- Agendas & minutes: posted in advance on the town website at townsendma.gov.
- Public comment: residents may address the board. Check the agenda for the procedure.
- Town Meeting: for the budget and bylaws, the deciding vote belongs to the registered voters in the hall, which can include you.
Public hearings and meetings are where residents shape town decisions.