Don’t think your single voice makes much difference in this town? Consider this: three town committees need one more volunteer to reach a quorum. Plus, one board is actively recruiting people to help with town youth programs.
Last week, the Board of Selectmen reappointed to town committees returning members whose terms were expiring this month. In addition to the standing vacancies, 14 positions were left newly vacant.
Most of those were members who didn’t return their forms, but also didn’t send a request to withdraw. (So, if you meant to stay on but didn’t send in your form, better get cracking!)
The committees currently without a quorum are:
- Green Technology and Recycling Committee – 5 person board has 2 members
- Southborough Elderly Housing Committee – 7 person board has 3 members
- Southborough Housing Opportunity Partnership Committee (SHOPC) – 6 person board has 3 members
- Americans with Disabilities Act Committee – 5 person board has NO members
Maybe you are interested in serving the town, but the above committees don’t appeal to you. There are plenty more opportunities to serve.
Youth and Family Services asked me to share their appeal for help on the Youth Commission board:
The Southborough Youth Commission Board is looking for a few new members! The Board oversees and supports the work of Southborough Youth and Family Services, a department of the Town of Southborough which provides vital mental health and social service support to residents of the town. Among our services are: counseling, in-school groups, parenting support, holiday giving program, campership program, emergency fund, middle school Teen Centers, and more. (read more)
If you’re one of those people who hates committees, here are two vacancies that may be for you. (Especially if you like the outdoors):
- Fence Viewer
- Field Driver
If you’d like to contribute to a team effort, here are more committees with vacancies:
- Community Preservation Committee
- Economic Development Committee [EDC]
- Historical Commission
- Open Space Preservation Commission
- Recreation Commission
- Registrar of Voters
- Southborough Scholarship Advisory Committee
- Southborough Stewardship Committee
- Zoning Board of Appeals (see related post)
There may be vacancies on other committees. Boards appointed by the Town Moderator weren’t on the BOS list. I don’t have the updated status on those yet.
One of those is the Public Works Planning Board, which was just assigned tasks by the BOS last week. The town website shows the 5 person board as having 2 vacancies and 2 expiring terms.
Department of Public Works’ Director Karen Galligan didn’t know the updated status. But she did believe at least one member intended to remain on the board and that they had received notice of interest from others.
To volunteer for any position in town government, click here for an application.
If you want more information on what a position entails, post a comment.
I’m no expert, but I’ll see if I can help you find the answer.
(Photo by Susan Fitzgerald)
One source of information about what a town committee does is the Annual Town Report which is available on the town website. It includes each committee’s report of their activity for 2013. Also includes the entire town budget and the business done at the 2013 Town Meeting. Hard copies are hard to come by (appropriate, I guess) but there should be one available for viewing at the library and you can check with the Town House receptionist, too.
Also all meetings are open to the public so you can check the meeting schedule on the website and attend a meeting or two–a good idea, actually.