Select Board

Email Town Administrator

The three elected members of the Select Board are the executive officials of the Town. Their duties are many and varied, including the responsibility for day to day Town operations. Generally, they oversee and coordinate most aspects of Town government and carry out the decisions of Town Meeting. Specifically, they oversee all budget requests and must authorize all bill payments, authorize temporary and permanent borrowings, appoint and supervise Town employees, and negotiate contracts and purchasing agreements. The Board under its authority also issues licenses for businesses and special events requiring permits and hears and acts upon requests and concerns from Town residents regarding Town services. They also appoint replacements to fill vacancies in Town offices, and can create new positions as described under state law. They make decisions about Town participation in state, county and federal programs, are responsible for assembling the warrant for Town meeting, and have the power to call a special Town Meeting at any time.  In addition to these responsibilities, the Select Board represents the Town of Chesterfield in governmental matters outside of Town.

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Select Board Liaison Guidelines:

• The role of the Select Board liaison is to facilitate communications and guide the Department, Board or Committee accordingly, when necessary.
• Select Board Liaisons should communicate on a regular basis with the Chair of their Boards/Committees or Department Head to serve as a resource if the department or committee has any needs, questions, or hot button issues with which they need the Select Board's special attention or assistance, or of which the Select Board should be aware.
• Select Board Liaisons should review the agenda and prior meeting minutes of each of their assigned Boards/Committees on a regular basis (ideally before the upcoming meeting) to keep current with the activities of their assigned committees.
• Select Board Liaisons should make an effort to occasionally attend a meeting of the relevant board or committee but are not expected to attend each meeting.
• On an annual basis, Select Board Liaisons should review the charge of the committee with the Chair, discuss if the committee is functioning effectively, and discuss the committee's work plan or upcoming objectives.
• If a Department, Board or Committee is proposing to ask the Select Board to bring an article to a Town Meeting session, the Department Head, Board or Committee Chair should work with their Select Board liaison to ensure the entire Select Board and Town Administrator are informed in a timely and ongoing manner prior to voting the warrant.

Boards, Committee and Commission Responsibilities:

• The Chair of each multi-member body will ensure that the Select Board Liaison is sent advance notice of each meeting as well as all meeting agendas and minutes.
• The Chair will inform the Select Board Liaison of any significant issues under current or potential future discussion that are relevant to the roles and responsibilities of the Select Board or that may require future action by the Select Board
• The Chair will invite the Select Board Liaison to meetings with as much advance notice as possible to ensure attendance.
• The Chair will request, through the Select Board Liaison, a joint meeting with the Select Board when the multi-member Body determines that an issue requires:
  • Action by the Select Board
  • Direction from the Select Board
• Specific information or guidance needs to be provided to the Select Board on an issue under the purview of the multi-member body.
• For those multi-member bodies where members are directly or jointly appointed by the Select Board, a vacancy should immediately be reported to the Town Administrator, the Town Clerk, and the Select Board Liaison so that the vacancy can be filled in an appropriate time and manner.