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Volunteers Needed

Volunteer to serve on a town board or committee
Posted on: August 31, 2023 - 10:27am
IMAGE-VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Town is in need of a few good volunteers to serve on any of several town committees or commissions.  Serving on a town board or committee is a great way to give a little back to the community, and help the Town move forward in a positive and inclusive way!  Experience is helpful, but not necessary.

If you would like to be considered for an appointment:

  • Send an email to the Administrative Assistant with the name of the board you wish to volunteer for. 
  • Briefly note your reasons for wanting to serve
  • Include mention of any skills or experience that might be relevant to the board. 
  • Include your full name, current street address, phone and email address.

Currently, there are openings on:

THE CEMETERY COMMISSION

The Cemetery Commission is responsible for the care, maintenance and upkeep of the Westhampton Cemetery and any other public burial grounds in the Town.  The Commission operates in accordance with Chapter 114 of the General Laws and the bylaw of the Town of Westhampton

Commissioners are appointed by the Selectboard for a three year term.

Commissioners work to

  • manage all cemetery property and grounds
  • lay out the property into plots and
  • grant and convey the rights for burial and erection of memorials

Commissioners are responsible for

  • keeping records of all plots
  • ensuring markers are placed on all graves
  • setting reasonable fees for maintenance and burials
  • submitting reports at least annually to the town which shall include the commission’s financial and operational records for that year

Commissioners oversee the Cemetery Superintendent, a part-time employee who

  • Interacts with the public to show, and sell plots
  • Oversees all grave openings and closings
  • Prepares foundations for all markers and memorials
  • Performs all necessary groundskeeping, and
  • Other duties as deemed necessary by the Cemetery Commissioners.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:

Towns in Massachusetts are required to provide for the election or appointment of a finance committee.  The committee is required to consider all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town.  Committee members may be elected to terms not exceeding three years.

The Finance Committee’s authority is limited to an advisory role only, and has no other policy or decision making authority.  The Finance Committee considers all proposed expenditures (operational, capital, discretionary), and all proposed sources of revenue (taxes, fees, grants), and provides its fiscal recommendations to voters in Westhampton for action at Town Meeting.

Westhampton’s Finance Committee is a body of ten persons, elected to terms of three years.  It has traditionally operated as the principal organizer and drafter of the Town’s annual operating and capital budgets.

Finance Committee work begins in late Autumn, shortly after the tax rate is set, and revenue estimates for the next fiscal year begin to take form.  By Town Bylaw, departmental budgets for the next fiscal year are required to be submitted by mid January for consideration.  The Finance Committee must submit its final report, in writing, at least three days prior to the Annual Town Meeting (which is always held on the second Saturday in May).

THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION

The Agricultural Commission represents the Westhampton farming and forestry communities.  Seven members are appointed for overlapping terms of three years.

Section 7-16 of the General Bylaw of Westhampton guarantees the “Right to Farm”, noting that

agricultural activities may occur on holidays, weekdays, and weekends by night or day and shall include the attendant incidental noise, odors, dust, and fumes associated with normally accepted agricultural practices.

It is hereby determined that whatever impact may be caused to others through the normal practice of agriculture is more than offset by the benefits of farming to the neighborhood, community, and society in general.

The benefits and protections of this By-law are intended to apply exclusively to those commercial agricultural and farming operations and activities conducted in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices.

Section 7-16 also requires the Agricultural Commission to review and facilitate resolutions of any grievance brought against the operations of a farm.  The Commission is required to determine if the grievance is legitimate – if there is an impact generated from the activities of that farm that are (a) above and beyond normal activities associated with farming, or (b) able to be remediated without significant detriment to the farm -- and report its recommendations to the referring Town authority.

THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Selectboard appoints the mebers of the Capital Improvement Planning Committee, whose five members must be residents of the Town of Westhampton, and are appointed annually as follows: 

  • The Selectboard appoints three members at large.
  • The Finance Committee and Selectboard shall each select one of their members for appointment. 
  • Any vacancy shall be appointed by the Selectboard or the appropriate board for the remainder of the term.
  • The Committee shall choose its own officers.

Department heads, boards and commissions shall by December 1st of each year provide the Committee with information concerning all anticipated projects requiring Town Meeting action during the ensuing six years. 

The Committee shall consider

  • the relative need,
  • impact,
  • timing,
  • cost,
  • completeness of the plan,
  • community support,
  • availability of outside funding, and
  • other factors deemed appropriate to the individual expenditures.

The committee will also weigh the effect each proposed expenditure will have on the financial position of the Town.

By February 1, the Committee must prepare a report recommending a Capital Improvement Budget for the next fiscal year, and a Capital Improvement Program including recommended capital improvements for the following five fiscal years.

This report shall include its recommendations for the scheduling and financing of capital outlays.

The report shall be submitted to the Selectboard and Finance Committee for consideration and agreement.