Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Selectboard and the School Committee, much of Westhampton’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 whose elected board runs the executive work itself, these rooms are where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Some boards are appointed by the Selectboard, permanent and ad hoc. Others are elected on the town ballot: the June 2026 election filled seats on the Board of Assessors, the Planning Board, the Finance Committee, and the Library Trustees, along with the Tree Warden, the Moderator, and a Constable. In Westhampton 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 owns and manages the town’s Community Forest and protects Westhampton’s wetlands, streams, and open space.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget line by line and advises Town Meeting on spending. Elected.
- Board of Assessors sets property values and hears abatements. Elected.
- Agricultural Commission supports the town’s farms and farm land.
- Historical Commission weighs in on the town’s historic places.
- Open Space and Recreation committees look after the fields, trails, and protected land across the town.
- Master Plan Implementation Committee carries out the town’s Resilient Westhampton Master Plan.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the boards and committees index at westhamptonma.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 Selectboard, 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 Westhampton.