Town Government
Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department, not an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. Under West Newbury’s Town Manager Act, Chapter 97 of the Acts of 2017, the Town Manager appoints and may remove the department heads, subject to ratification by the Select Board, which is why none of their names appears on a ballot and why the Town Manager is the person the Select Board holds responsible for all of them.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most, with the head the town names on its own staff directory. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit the town’s Departments page or its staff directory. Town Hall is at 381 Main Street.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, the town census, and elections. Town Clerk Amanda Haggstrom. 978-363-1100 ext. 1139. |
|---|---|
| Public Works | Streets, water, snow plowing, and the town’s roads. Highway Superintendent Richard “Butch” Hills. 978-363-1100 ext. 1135. |
| Board of Health | Inspections, clinics, and public health complaints. Health Agent Paul Sevigny. 978-833-7458. |
| Police | Public safety and non-emergency response. Police Chief Michael Dwyer. 978-363-1212. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, prevention, and emergency response. 978-363-1112. |
| Council on Aging | The SAGE Center senior center, outreach, and programs for older residents. 978-363-1104. |
| Assessors | Property valuation, abatements, and exemptions. Chief Assessor Christian Kuhn. 978-363-1100 ext. 1117. |
| Accounting | Budget support, accounting, and the town’s financial reporting. Town Accountant Jennifer Walsh. 978-363-1100 ext. 1113. |
| Treasurer / Collector | Tax bills, payments, and town cash management. 978-363-1100. |
| Water Department | The town water supply and mains. Water Superintendent Mark Marlowe. 978-363-1100. |
| G.A.R. Memorial Library | The town’s public library, books, programs, and meeting space. Library Director Corinn Flaherty. 978-363-1105. |
| Conservation Commission | Wetlands protection and the town’s open space and trails. 978-363-1100 ext. 1126. |
| Veterans’ Affairs | Benefits, claims, and services for West Newbury veterans, through the Eastern Essex District. 978-356-6699. |
Emergencies are 911. The non-emergency line 978-363-1212 reaches West Newbury’s public safety dispatch for police and fire; the Fire Department’s own line is 978-363-1112.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.