In between the Town Meetings, somebody needs to make the day-to-day decisions of governance, uphold regulations, and help prepare for the future. These duties are delegated, through the Town's Bylaws, to a variety of different Boards.

Most officers on these Boards are not specifically trained for their work. Instead, most volunteer (or accept a small stipend for) their time and efforts to attend to the Town’s interests. New and veteran members grow on the job, using state documents, other members, and affiliations with relevant organizations as resources.

Perhaps the most visible official group is the elected Board of Selectmen. People may liken this board to a mayor or CEO. In reality, however, this Board is relatively limited in its powers: Perhaps surprisingly, it does not have direct authority over many of the other decision-making groups in the Town government. Effective Town wide governance, then, relies on the willingness and ability of the different agencies to communicate and collaborate with one another.

Beyond the Selectmen, there are other groups, such as Finance Committee, School Committee, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, and the Planning Board. Further information about these—and other—groups' responsibilities and powers are included elsewhere on this site.

The public has a right to know what the officers are saying and doing about the Town’s interests. All Boards, Committees, Commissions, and Task Forces are required to hold open meetings. For more information, see Meetings and Hearings.

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