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 cropped from Town website)
The Taxation Aid Committee asked me to promote their need for new members. Looking at the list of other vacancies in town, there are currently over 40 other openings. So, I’m sharing all of those opportunities to support Southborough.
Taxation Aid Committee
The Taxation Aid Committee’s ex-officio member, Town Treasurer Brian Ballentine, shared that the former Chair, Elizabeth Kesselman, “has done a marvelous job over the last several years”, but stepped down due to other volunteer commitments. He wrote of the responsibility:
This is a one year appointment. Our meeting schedules are flexible and not burdensome. The main functions of the Committee are to evaluate annual applications for tax aid assistance and to approve aid on applications deemed appropriate.
The Committee recently approved aid for seven residents in the amount of $1,500 each. This will be applied to each applicant’s FY24 real estate tax bill. To apply you must be a resident for 5 years, be 65 years of age or have a state recognized disability, and have an income of less than $30,000 (individual) or $60,000 (household). Applications are available annually in February at Town Hall or through the website.
You can learn more about that committee here.
As with any of the openings, volunteers can apply online here or stop by the Town House to apply in person.
Tricentennial Committee
This new committee was created in April to help the Town plan for celebrating Southborough’s 300th anniversary in 2027.
The committee doesn’t have any presence on the Town’s website right now. But the Town did previously advertise the opportunity. The promo pointed residents here to read to the charge, which includes:
To research, evaluate, make recommendations, and coordinate the Town-wide activities to commemorate the 300th Anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of Southborough in 2027.
The charge highlights seeking volunteers with the following interests/experience:
- Background or interest in history
- Event planning
- Fundraising/development
- Logistics
- Music & Arts
- Senior Citizen Representative
- Other Committee representatives
Tonight, the Select Board is interviewing two volunteers for Citizens-at-large positions and one representative from the Historical Commission. That still will leave a vacancy for a veteran and two more at-large seats.
Additional Vacancies
The Town’s listed vacancies also included the following positions. Some of them offer multiple opportunities (e.g. positions on the CPC that are for representatives of committees that also have vacancies).
Unless otherwise noted, members are appointed by the Select Board:
- Advisory Committee (appointed by Moderator) (1 vacancy)
- Cable Television Committee (3 vacancies)
- Capital Improvement & Planning Committee (2 vacancies)
- Community Preservation Committee (4 vacancies)
- SHOPC Representative
- Open Space Preservation Commission Representative
- Citizen-at-large
- (There is also a vacancy for Housing Authority Rep., but no current openings on that committee)
- Conservation Commission (1 vacancy)
- Council On Aging (Alternate Member) (1 vacancy)
- Economic Development Committee (2-3* vacancies)
- Golf Course Committee (1 vacancy)
- Historical Commission (2 vacancies)
- Metropolitan Area Planning Council (1 vacancy)
- Municipal Technology Committee (1 vacancy)
- Open Space Preservation Commission (2 vacancies)
- PILOT Committee (3 vacancies) — (read more here)
- 2 Citizens-at-large
- Council on Aging Representative
- Southborough Cultural Arts Council (1 vacancy)
- 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)
- Citizen-at-large
- (There is also a vacancy for Recreation Rep., but no current openings on that Commission)
- Zoning Board Of Appeals (Alternate Member) (1 vacancy) — (read more here)
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.
To apply for any of the open seats, use the New Citizen Activity Form here.
*The Select Board is interviewing a volunteer for the Economic Development Committee tonight. That will likely fill one of its vacancies. (They are also interviewing a volunteer for the Youth Commission, which is why I didn’t list that single vacancy.)
