Volunteering
Volunteering makes up a significant portion of the Heath "work force." Some examples of boards and committees that keep the Town running are our Select Board, Board of Heath, Cultural Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and more.
There are also volunteer organizations that enrich our lives are the Heath Historical Society, the Friends of the Heath Library, the Heath Herald, the Heath Agricultural Society, and the Volunteer Fire Department.
(1) To volunteer for boards, committees, and commissions that are staffed by appointment.
Use the Volunteer Form to express your interest. Your name will remain on file to be considered by the Select Board when an opening comes up. You will also be notified if there is a current opening. Scroll down to the About Town Boards and Committees section to learn more.
2) To run for an elected volunteer position (modest stipends apply to some positions)
Contact the Town Clerk for more information on elections and openings. Unsalaried elected positions:
- Select Board
- Library Trustee
- Finance Committee
- Planning Board
- School Committee
- Municipal Light Board (Broadband)
- Constable
(3) Other community volunteer opportunities
Emails and links:
- Email the Heath Agricultural Society, HeathAgSociety@gmail.com, and put Volunteer in the Subject line.
- Link to the Heath Historical Society
- Link to the Friends of the Heath Library
- Link to the Volunteer Fire Dept
- Link to LifePath
About Town Boards and Committees:
Some boards and committees remain very active. while others need new energy to get worthwhile initiatives back on track.
| Agricultural Commission |
"AgComs represent the farming community, encourage the pursuit of agriculture, promote agricultural economic development and protect farmlands and farm businesses, and preserve, revitalize and sustain agricultural businesses and land." Mass Assoc of Agricultural Commissions |
| Performs many important and crucial duties relative to the protection of public health- the control of disease- the promotion of sanitary living conditions- and the protection of the environment from damage and pollution. | |
| Building Use Committee | Building Use Committee The Building Use Committee has oversight of short-term use of Community Hall and Jacobs Road. Short-term is defined as less than 9 months. |
| Conservation Commission | The primary function of the Conservation Commission is to preserve and protect the local wetland resource areas, as defined in the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. |
| Council on Aging | To meet the needs of the aging by creating an active, healthy, social, and cultural community for Heath. |
| Cultural Council | The Heath Cultural Council provides funding to support artistic and culturally enriching community programs and activities in the Town of Heath and the surrounding area. This is an active committee that would welcome new members. |
| Historical Commission | The role of this commission is not listed on the town website. It has some authority over the area in town designated as the Heath Historic District regarding preservation. |
| This committee has oversite of Heath's areas designated as parks, recereational areas such a Burnt Hill hiking trails, and fostering recreational opportunities in Heath. The committee is currently involved in a very ambitious trail effort to be part of trails that go from Deerfield to North Adams. | |
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Update pages on the Town Website by request from Town Coordinator and all web pages owners. |
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| Mass General Laws: Boards of appeal powers
Section 14. A board of appeals shall have the following powers:— In exercising the powers granted by this section, a board of appeals may, in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, make orders or decisions, reverse or affirm in whole or in part, or modify any order or decision, and to that end shall have all the powers of the officer from whom the appeal is taken and may issue or direct the issuance of a permit. |
Below are currently less active committees that could use new energy
Agricultural Commission
Once the goal of getting Heath designated as a "Right to Farm" community was achieved, the committee may have lost some momentum.
"AgComs represent the farming community, encourage the pursuit of agriculture, promote agricultural economic development and protect farmlands and farm businesses, and preserve, revitalize and sustain agricultural businesses and land." Mass Assoc of Agricultural Commissions
Mass Gov Handbook for Agricultural Commissions
Building Facilities Committee
Currently not meeting. It was intended as an ongoing committee to assist the Town in assessing the conditions of buildings, creating a priority list, and providing input on how to implement findings. The group did an excellent job assessing the building and creating the priority list, but did not continue with the last peice. New energy and enthusiasm needed her Energy Advisory Committee I believe this was focused on solar but appears to have lost some momentum. May need some new energy in the form of volunteers.