Above: If you’re interested in getting more involved in how the Town is run, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities you can sign up for (image of hands from public domain image by Karen Arnold)
The Cable Committee needs new members. And this week, the Town’s Veterans’ Grave Officer resigned. Plus, the Select Board approved the charge for a new committee.
Here are details on those and other volunteer vacancies in our Town’s government.
Residents interested in volunteering for any of the positions below can fill out an online form (with an option to upload a resume) here.
Cable Committee
The Cable Television Committee advises the Select Board “on the licensing and operation of cable television in the town.” That includes soliciting public input and negotiating agreements with cable/telecommunications providers.
The committee wrapped up its work renewing licenses with Comcast. With Charter and Verizon and agreements already approved, they agreed to go on hiatus until early 2023. Now, it’s time for them to start the cycle over again, beginning with Verizon’s contract which will expire in 2024.
You can learn more about their work in my 2017 post here, and on the Town’s website.
Veterans’ Graves Officer
After years serving as the Town’s agent overseeing that graves in the Town’s cemeteries are maintained with “Respect – Dignity and Honor“, Steve Whynot resigned from the post. A new volunteer will need to be appointed.
Select Board Chair Andrew Dennington announced on Tuesday night that Whynot had resigned the day prior. Board members noted their appreciation for all of the great work that Whynot has done over the years.
According to Whynot’s description on the Town website, his goals included ensuring that each Veteran’s grave “is appropriately marked with either a grave marker, flag holder or an American Flag.” He also helped with requests for granite/plaque grave markers from the federal government, among other work.
You can read more about the position here.
21 Highland Future Use Committee
On Tuesday, the Select Board voted to approve the charge of a new ad hoc committee to study and make recommenations on how the municipal property, and the historic South Union School Building situated on it, should be used.
You can read more about the issues around the property and public demand for a committee here. You can read the draft charge describing the committee’s responsibilities here.
Before approving it, members agreed to revise the committee membership. It will be comprised of:
- 2 residents who live within ½ mile of the property
- 1 at large members
- One representative each from:
- The Planning Board
- The Open Space Preservation Commission
- The Historical Commission
- The Recreation Commission
Additional Vacancies
The Town updated membership list shows the following vacant seats. Some of them offer multiple opportunities (e.g. positions on the CPC that are for representatives of a committee that also has vacancies).
Unless otherwise noted, members are appointed by the Select Board:
- Advisory Committee (1 vacancy) (appointed by Moderator)
- Cable Television Committee (3 vacancies)
- Capital Improvement & Planning Committee (2 vacancies)
- Community Preservation Committee (3 vacancies)
- Open Space Preservation Commission Representative
- SHOPC Representative
- (There is also a vacancy for Housing Authority Rep., but no current openings on that committee)
- Conservation Commission (2 vacancies) — (read more here)
- Council On Aging (Alternate Member) (1 vacancy)
- Economic Development Committee (3 vacancies)
- Metropolitan Area Planning Council (1 vacancy)
- Municipal Technology Committee (1 vacancy)
- Open Space Preservation Commission (2 vacancies)
- PILOT Committee (2 vacancies) — (read more here)
- 1 Citizen-at-large
- Council on Aging Representative
- Southborough Housing Opportunity Partnership Committee (SHOPC) (1 vacancy)
- Southborough Public Accessibility Committee (2 vacancies)
- Southborough Scholarship Advisory Committee (5 vacancies)
- Southborough Stewardship Committee (2 vacancies)
- 1 Citizen-at-large
- (There is also a vacancy for Recreation Rep., but no current openings on that Commission)
- Taxation Aid Committee (1 vacancy)
You can learn more about the committees through links to their website pages here, which includes their responsibilities and links to recent agendas and minutes. For many, you can also view past meetings here.
Again, to apply for any of the above open seats, click here.
Updated (10/27/23 7:38 pm): Initially, the story intro didn’t mention the newly formed commitee.
