IV. TOWN ADMINISTRATION
Town government in Massachusetts serves "at
the pleasure" of the Commonwealth and must operate within the
constraints of Massachusetts General Laws. To a great extent, these
laws provide the procedural basis for town government operations,
but with adequate latitude for the voters of Dover to set their
own priorities, principally at the Annual Town Meeting and through
their elected town officials.
ELECTED TOWN OFFICIALS
The Board of Selectmen is the executive
branch of Dover and consists of three persons, with one member elected
each year for a three year term (i.e. on a "staggered"
basis). This Board is responsible (within the limits of state statutes
and town bylaws) for the "general direction and management
of the property and affairs of the Town." The Board of Selectmen
meets in the Town House, which is in the center of town. The present
Town House was constructed in 1922 and renovated in 1999.
The Selectmen oversee all financial operations
of the town through the appointed Town Accountant and Treasurer-Collector.
They must approve the payroll and bills turned in by the various
committees and boards of the town to cover running expenses and
purchases before the Treasurer may issue checks. The Selectmen determine
the order in which items appear on the Warrant at Town Meetings.
They also determine repayment schedules for bonded items for capital
expenditures like new buildings and large equipment. They also take
care of such matters as insurance coverage of town buildings, the
inspection and choice of roads to be repaired by the Highway Department,
the laying out of new streets, and the arranging for federal aid
in case of hurricane or flood damage. The Selectmen serve as Water
Commissioners responsible for the town water system that primarily
serves the commercial area in the center of town. As Police Commissioners,
the Selectmen supervise the Police Department. Through the Board
of Fire Engineers, they are responsible for operation of the Fire
Department. The Selectmen are responsible for approximately 150
appointments that must be made in town government. They also direct
the disbursement of the proceeds of the Chickering Trust.
The Board of Selectmen meets regularly in the Town
House. Meetings are open to the public and are often broadcast on
cable TV. Under certain circumstances, portions of the meeting are
declared to be "executive sessions" and are closed to
the public. Like all municipal boards, the Selectmen must conform
to the requirements of the state open meeting law which requires
the written public posting of meeting times 48 hours prior to the
meeting.
The Moderator, who is elected annually,
conducts all regular and special Town Meetings. He/she appoints
the Warrant Committee, the Long Range Planning Committee, the Dover
member of the Minuteman Regional School Committee, and any special
committee so directed by the Town Meeting, such as the Memorial
Day Committee. The important nine-member Warrant Committee
functions as the financial "watch dog" for the town.
The Town Clerk, who is elected annually,
is responsible for a multitude of essential activities, most of
which are required by law and pertain to the keeping of records
and documents, the issuance of licenses, and the administration
of local, state and national elections in Dover.
The Board of Assessors has three elected
members, serving three year terms on a staggered basis. Assistant
assessors may be appointed by this Board to assist them in their
work. The primary responsibility of the Board of Assessors is to
assess the value of all real and personal property in the town for
taxation purposes. Based upon the available funds and the appropriations
made at the Annual Town Meeting, the Assessors set the property
tax rate, which is subsequently approved by the Massachusetts Department
of Revenue.
The Planning Board consists of five elected
members, each of whom holds a five year term on a staggered basis.
The principal responsibilities of the Board are to administer town
bylaws and state statutes pertaining to the subdivision of lands,
to maintain a Town Master Plan, to administer the Scenic Road Act,
and to conduct hearings regarding special permits for cell towers
and business district plans.
The Board of Health consists of three members,
each of whom is elected for a three year term on a staggered basis.
The Board appoints various agents who carry out their decisions.
The Board approves the drilling of wells and the installation of
septic systems. It oversees the inspection of restaurants and kitchens
used for public functions. In addition, it has responsibilities
for animal, mosquito and tobacco control. It also oversees the disposal
of hazardous waste.
The Park and Recreation Commission consists
of five elected members serving three year terms on a staggered
basis. The Commission has jurisdiction over all town park lands
and public recreational programs within the Town.
The Library Trustees are an elected board
of six people, serving three year terms on a staggered basis. They
are responsible for the operation of the Dover Town Library.
The Cemetery Commission is an elected board
of three, serving three year terms on a staggered basis. They maintain
and supervise the Highland Cemetery in Dover Center.
The Dover School Committee consists of five
elected members serving three year terms on a staggered basis. They
are responsible for public education in Dover, Grades Kindergarten
through Grade 5 as well as for Special Education children ages 3-21.
They are responsible for establishing policy, developing a budget,
and evaluating educational needs.
The Dover-Sherborn Regional School Committee
consists of six elected members (three each from the towns of Dover
and Sherborn) serving for three years on a staggered basis. Powers
and duties are similar to those of the Dover School Committee. They
are responsible for the public education of Grades 6 through 12
in our Regional School District.
The Constables number three and are elected
to serve for three years. They are responsible for keeping order
at Town Meeting, Caucus, and on Election Day.
The three Trustees of the Larrabee and Whiting
Estates are elected every five years to manage properties left
to the Town for the benefit of the poor under wills made by Joseph
Larrabee and Walter J. Whiting.
By state law, all meetings of town committees and
boards are open to the public. Schedules of meetings are posted
on the bulletin board in the Town House 48 hours prior to the meeting.
APPOINTED TOWN OFFICIALS
Regularly appointed town officials and boards are
noted in this text. Other officials and committees may be appointed
from time to time by the Selectmen or Moderator as required. For
current listings, refer to the Town Report, which
is published annually.
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