Selectmen
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
One South Main Street
P.O. Box 670
Belchertown, MA 01007
Email: selectmen@belchertown.org
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Effective: May 29, 2019
2019/2020 BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Edward G. Boscher, Chairman
14 Springhill Road, Belchertown, MA 01007
(617) 501-1547
Gail L. Gramarossa, Vice Chairman
39 North Main Street, Belchertown, MA 01007
(413) 323-4489
Jen D. Turner, Clerk
364 Rockrimmon Street, Belchertown, MA 01007
(413) 345-2439
Brenda Q. Aldrich, Member
P.O. Box 1462, Belchertown, MA 01007
413-323-6810
Nicholas J. O’Connor, Member
13 Maplecrest Drive, Belchertown, MA 01007
(610) 955-3192
LIAISON DUTIES
Updated by Board of Selectmen: June 10, 2019
Edward G. Boscher, Chairman
Board of Registrars & Election; Inspection Services; Moderator; Rent Control Board; Tax Title Committee; Town Accountant; Town Clerk; Treasurer-Collector; BCTV; IDFA; Finance Committee; Department of Public Works (Sidewalks, Street Lighting, Cemeteries, Transfer Station, Maintenance, Wastewater Treatment Plant); Non-School Buildings & Grounds; Town Common; Town Clock: PVTA; Professional Engineering; ADA Committee; Willard Stebbins Trust Fund for Lake Vale Cemetery; Veterans’ Services Advisory Board; Veterans’ Graves; Memorial Committee.
The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen is an Ex-Officio Member of Library Board of Trustees and Liaison to Clapp Memorial Library.
Gail L. Gramarossa, Vice Chairman
Agricultural Commission; Board of Health; Lakes Committee; Pathfinder School; Belchertown School Department and School Committee; Council on Aging and Senior Center; Housing Authority; Belchertown Opioid Awareness Task Force (BOAT).
Jennifer D. Turner, Clerk
Zoning Board of Appeals; Planning Board; EDIC; Town Common Lighting Committee; Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; Conservation Commission; Community Preservation Committee; Cultural Council; Fair Committee.
Brenda Q. Aldrich, Member
Board of Assessors; Historic District By-Law Commission; Historical Committee; Personnel Board; Police Department; Fire-Rescue; Police Candidate Review Committee; Civil Defense; Animal Control Department; Animal Control Advisory Board; Law Account.
Nicholas J. O’Connor, Member
Technology Advisory Committee; IT Department; Trail Stewardship Council; Family Center; Scholarship Committee; Skate Park Committee; Parks, Beach and Recreation Committee; Recreation Department; Patrick Center Re-Use Committee.
Three Year (Overlapping) Terms; Five Members; Meetings take place on Mondays beginning at 7:15 p.m. in Lawrence Memorial Hall (in the event of a holiday falling on a Monday, the Selectmen will not meet that week, and also the Selectmen will not meet on the 5th Monday of any month. They are the executive branch of the Town government and are responsible for policy decisions and carrying out most of the decisions of the Town made at Town Meeting. Their other powers and responsibilities are:
- Approval of all bills and payroll before they are paid by the Town Treasurer. Signing all notes, bond issues, abatements, and weekly town warrants which itemize all town department bills and payroll.
- Overseeing procedures to "override" or "exempt" the Proposition 2 1/2 tax limit and setting the classification rate for taxing different types of property in Belchertown.
- Issuance of business licenses. Granting and issuing licenses and permits which include liquor licenses; common victualler's licenses; transfer station permits; Class I, II and III auto licenses; amusement licenses; and entertainment licenses. Refer to the end of this booklet for a complete listing of licenses and where to obtain them.
- Investigation into the conduct of any town department.
- Control of town property (except school property).
- Calling town meetings by the issuance of the Town Meeting Warrant.
- Awarding bids and contracts.
- Appointment of the Town Administrator and most department heads. Oversight of the Department of Public Works, oversight of construction projects.
- Approval of placement and construction of public utility facilities.
- Acting as License Commissioners, Police Commission, Fire Commission, and Highway Commissioners.
Meetings of the Board of Selectmen, as well as any town board, are open to the public.
A tag sale permit is no longer required. Please remember to take down any tag sale signs you have posted.