Town government in Massachusetts serves “at the
pleasure” of the Commonwealth and must operate within the constraints of and
as directed by the Massachusetts General Laws.
To a great extent, these laws provide the procedural basis for town
government operations. There is
adequate latitude for the voters of Orange to set their own priorities,
principally at the Annual Town Meeting and through their elected Town officials.
For a current listing of elected Town officials refer to the Orange Town
Report or call the Office of the Town Clerk.
If interested in running for a public office, please call the Office of
the Town Clerk.
Board of Selectmen – is the executive branch of Orange town government and consists of three persons with one member elected each year for a three-year term. The Board is responsible for the “general direction and management of the property and affairs of the Town” within the limits of State statues and Town by-laws. A full-time Administrator is appointed by the board to administer and implement the Selectmen’s policies of the administration of the Town. The Board also serves as Sewer Commissioners.
Moderator – elected for a one-year term, conducts all regular and special town meetings. He appoints the members of the Finance Committee and Human Resource Board.
Town Clerk – elected for a three-year term, is responsible for official duties specified in 73 chapters and 451 sections of the Massachusetts General Laws and the by-laws of the Town of Orange. Among these many duties and responsibilities are: certifying all action taken at town meetings; conducting all elections; recording all vital statistics, issuing various permits, certificates and licenses; administering oaths of office to appointed and elected officials; conducting the annual town census; keeping the official records of the Town; acting as Clerk to the Board of Registrars; conducting voter registration sessions and maintaining voter lists; and responding to all requests from citizens as a source for information, aid or assistance in regard to almost any aspect of town affairs, services or functions.
Board of Assessors – numbers three, with one member elected each year for a three-year term. The Board is responsible for setting a fair and equitable tax rate for the Town each fiscal year, completing State mandated revaluation of all real estate and personal property within the Town every three years; maintaining all records on real estate, personal property, motor vehicle excise taxes, and establishing new growth figures for each fiscal year.
Board of Health – consists of three members holding staggered terms of three years. The Board hires a part time Health Agent. The Board is responsible for the enforcement of the regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Health and the rules and regulations for the Town of Orange.
Trustees of the Public Library – is a board of six members, two of who are elected annually on a rotating basis for a three-year term. They are responsible for the operation of the Wheeler Memorial Library and the Moore-Leland Library in North Orange.
Mahar Regional School Committee – consists of six members from Orange serving three-year terms on a staggered basis. The towns of New Salem, Petersham, and Wendell comprise this committee with a total of eleven members.
Orange School Committee – consists of seven members elected for a three-year term on a staggered basis. They are responsible for public education in the town for all children in grades K-6. The three elementary schools are Fisher Hill (Grades K-2), Dexter Park (Grades 3-4), and Butterfield (Grades 5-6).
Water Commissioners – are a Board of three members elected annually on a rotating basis for a three-year term. They employ a Superintendent, supervise the maintenance and development of the Town water system, including fire hydrants, and establish rates for the use of water.
Town Collector – is elected for a three-year term and is responsible for the collection of all monies owed to the Town and communicates to the taxpayers necessary tax information, due date of payments, and advise of penalties as a result of non-payment. All real estate, personal property, and motor vehicle excise bills are mailed from the Collector. The Collector also prepares municipal lien certificates and initiates the tax taking procedure. The Collector’s Office prepares schedules and reports on all daily deposits and forwards them to the Treasurer and Town Accountant.
Treasurer – is elected for a three-year term and is responsible for the reconciliation of all bank accounts and verifying that all receipts for the month balance with the bank statements, the cash book, the computer and the Accountant and Collector records, makes out all checks for the town and does all investing of monies.