Town Directory of Boards, Commissions and other Elected Officials

Board / Official

Purpose, Powers & Duties

Advisory Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Advisory Committee consists of nine registered voters of the town appointed by the Moderator and Selectmen. It is the duty of the Advisory Committee to consider the annual estimates and expenditures as prepared by the Town Accountant and to consider the warrant articles for any town meeting, and to make recommendations to the Town for all such articles.

Affirmative Action Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Affirmative Action Committee reviews and develops recommendations in the areas of equal employment and affirmative action concerning minorities, women, persons with disabilities and Vietnam-era veterans.

Bandstand Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-7529
Fax: 781-826-5950
 

The Bandstand Committee is a three member appointed Committee. They are responsible for the summer concert series held at the bandstand and any fundraising activities associated with the bandstand.

Board of Appeals

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-0393
Fax: 781-826-950
 

The Zoning Board of Appeals consists of three regular members and three associate members, appointed by the Board of Selectmen for terms of three years. The Board is the Special Permit Granting Authority for special permits as cited in the Zoning By-Laws, and they have jurisdiction of all appeals under the subdivision control law. The Board of Appeals is also responsible for the hearing of all appeals as defined in the Sign By-Law of the Town of Hanover.

Board of Assessors

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-6401
Fax: 781-826-5239
 

The Board of Assessors is a three member elected Board which is responsible for the valuation of all real and personal property for the purposes of levying the property tax. The legal standard is full and fair cash market value. The assessed valuation date is January 1. Assessors also have the responsibility of issuing the motor vehicle excise tax bills, originated by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and boat excise bills originated from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Environmental Police. Assessors also review and process personal exemptions.

Board of Health

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
 

Phone: 781-826-5289
Fax: 781-826-5950

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Public Health give the local Board of Health the authority to enforce all state regulations, as they deem necessary, to ensure the best interest of the public health. The Health Department also Monitors health-related building issues, including septic systems.

Board of Public Works

40 Pond Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-3189
Fax: 781-826-8915
 

The Board of Public Works is a three member elected Board charged with overseeing the town’s drinking water systems, roadway infrastructure, transfer station, cemeteries and public grounds. The Board works to insure that the residents have the benefit of modern, cost effective and up to date technology to deliver these services.

Board of Registrars

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-8796
 

The Board of Registrars is a four member Board. They oversee elections, the Town Census and voter registration.

Board of Selectmen

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-2261
Fax: 781-826-7499

 

The Board of Selectmen consists of the three members which are elected by the voters for a term of three years, such that one member’s term shall expire each year. One member serves annually as chairman for the coming year. Jointly, the Selectmen serve as Chief Executive of the Town. As Hanover’s principal elective officers, and in addition to their responsibilities under state and local law, the Board of Selectmen has general supervision over all matters that are not specifically delegated by law or by vote of the Town to some other officer or board.

Bylaw Review Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
 

The Bylaw Review Committee is a committee of five citizens at large, with the purpose of continuous review of the Town By-laws to keep them current with the needs of the Town.

Cable Television Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Cable Television Committee was formed to assist in the cable licensing process for the Town and to work as a liaison between the Town and the Cable providers and to monitor compliance with licenses and applicable laws.

Capital Improvement Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Capital Improvement Committee develops and reports to the Town Meeting the Town's capital improvement program reviews and reports proposals for construction of municipal buildings, and acquisition of land or property, reviews consultant studies and analyses and/or design plans in connection with improvements to capital assets.

Community Preservation Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Community Preservation Committee is a nine member Board appointed by various Town Boards and also by the Town Moderator, subject to approval by a majority vote of the Board of Selectman that was developed to study the needs, possibilities, and resources of the town regarding community preservation and to make recommendations to the legislative body for the acquisition, creation and preservation of open space, historic resources and land for recreational use.

Conservation Commission

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-6505
Fax: 781-826-5950
 

Council on Aging

Circuit Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-878-6361
Fax: 781-878-8665
 

The Hanover Council on Aging serves older persons, disabled persons of all ages and their caregivers. Programs that enhance dignity and quality of life, support independence and encourage general wellness are developed, coordinated, and promoted to meet the needs of these individuals as well as providing advocacy and assistance.

Cultural Council

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Hanover Cultural Council is a five member appointed committee that administers the funds allocated to the town from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Their mission is to promote excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences in the Town.

Design Review Board

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Design Review Board is a five member Board appointed by the Selectmen to review development plans, examining the quality of design relative to construction, site development, landscaping, and signs for all commercial, industrial, public, multi-family, and institutional sites which are to be constructed or substantially altered.

Economic Development Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

Emergency Communications Committee

129 Rockland Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Business Phone: 781-826-3231
Fax: 781-826-7993
 

The Emergency Communications Committee is responsible for all equipment and personnel related to fire, police and medical communication including enhanced 9-1-1. The dispatchers handle all fire, police and medical emergency calls and answer requests for information from the public. They are trained professionals who provide a critical service to our community.

Fair Housing Commission

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Fair Housing Commission is a committee appointed by the Selectmen to ensure the nondiscriminatory provision of housing irrespective of race, color, creed, or family status. This committee is responsible for investigating fair housing complaints that are filed.

Fire Station Building and Reconstruction Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Fire Station Building and Reconstruction Committee was formed in 1993 as a five member committee to insure that protection services remain responsive to the citizens’ needs in the face of continued and projected town-wide growth.

Housing Authority

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
 

The Hanover Housing Authority has been formed to create a long-range Affordable Housing Plan which includes goals, objectives, guidelines and principles in accordance with M.G.L. Ch. 40B to achieve at a minimum, a 10% level of affordable housing which suits the character of our community.

Historical Commission

514 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-9575
 

The Hanover Historical Commission is the town's agency responsible for identifying, evaluating and protecting the historic and archeological assets within the town, maintains the inventory of the town's historic assets and administers specific statutes that protect historic properties.

Open Space Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Open Space Committee is a seven member committee appointed by the Moderator with the approval of a majority of the Selectmen. The committee is responsible for planning and facilitating the improvement of open space, enhancing access to open space and raising awareness of land use issues in Hanover. The committee makes recommendations annually to the Conservation Commission on land acquisition and enhancement.

Parks and Recreation Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-7529
Fax: 781-826-5950
 

The Parks and Recreation Committee is a five member Board appointed by the moderator. The Committee is responsible for the maintenance, improvement and scheduling of the Town’s recreation facilities. They also implement and manage the many recreation programs of the Town.

Planning Board

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
 

Phone: 781-826-7641
Fax: 781-826-5950

The Hanover Planning Board is a five member elected Board which was established in May of 1930 under the provisions of Mass General Laws Chapter 41, Section 81A. The Planning Board studies the needs and resources of the Town, particularly those conditions affecting public safety and welfare related to land use and development. The Planning Board is the “custodian” of the Town’s Zoning Bylaws. Another large part of the Planning Board’s responsibility is to research and develop the Town’s Master Plan and ensures that any growth in the Town is consistent with that plan. The Planning Board is also responsible for the official Town map and Zoning map and the Town’s GIS Data System.

Route 53 Joint Study Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The Route 53 Study committee was formed in 2003. They are a nine member Board appointed by the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen. The Committee tries to find ways to increase tax revenue along the Route 52 study area by proposing bylaw changes that would make it more attractive to commercial and business development in the future.

School Building Needs Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

The School Building Needs Committee was appointed by the Town Moderator in 2003 to review, summarize and provide future recommendations for the system wide school facilities.

School Committee

188 Broadway
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-878-0786
Fax: 781-871-3374
 

Senior Center Building Needs Committee

Circuit Street
Hanover, MA 02339
 

The Senior Center Building Needs Committee is a five member committee appointed by the Moderator to study and review the future building needs of the Council on Aging.

Stetson House Board of Overseers

514 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-9575
 

The Stetson House Board of Overseers is a three member Board appointed by the Selectmen to maintain the historical Stetson House and the buildings on that property.

Taxation Aid Committee

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-2316
Fax: 781-826-4997
 

The Taxation Aid Committee is a three member committee that provides modest grants to help the elderly and disabled persons of low income who may be having problems paying their property taxes. The funds are provided by donations from Hanover taxpayers.

Town Clerk

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
 

Phone: 781-826-2691
Fax: 781-826-5239

Among other things the Town Clerk issues Birth, Death Marriage and Business Certificates, and Dog, Fishing & Hunting Licenses. Hanover’s Town clerk is also a Passport Acceptance Facility and is the official Keeper of Records for the Town.

Town Collector

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
 

Phone: 781-826-2316
Fax: 781-826-4997

The Office of the Town Collector is responsible for the receipt, investment and disbursement of all Town funds.

Town Moderator

550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
 

Trust Fund Commissioners

Town of Hanover
550 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339

Phone: 781-826-3571
Fax: 781-826-7499
 

The Trust Fund Commissioners are charged with overseeing the prudent investment of Trust Fund assets and proper disbursement of trust fund requests for payments.

Trustees of Public Library

534 Hanover Street
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: 781-826-2972
Fax: 781-826-3130
 

The Public Library Board of Trustees is a three member elected Board that adopt library policies and services and oversee the maintenance of the Public Library.