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Board of Selectmen

Office in the Town Hall

56 School St.

Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

P: (508) 693-3554 x208

F: (508) 696-7736

 

Board Members

Kathleen Burton, Chairman
Walter Vail
Gail Barmakian

Gregory Coogan

Michael Santoro

Staff

Shelley Carter, Administrative Assistant

(508) 693-3554 x115

 

 

 

The Board of Selectmen are the Chief Elected Officials of the Town.  The Board consists of five residents who are elected to three-year terms on a community-wide basis. Massachusetts General Laws vest the Board of Selectmen with all municipal authority not delegated to other elected boards or retained by Town Meeting, as the Town's legislative branch. The Board of Selectmen employs a Town Administrator to manage the day-to-day business of the Town within the Board's policy direction and a Town Counsel to handle the Town's legal affairs.
 
Examples of the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Selectmen include:
  • Appointing Authority for many Town Boards and Committees, and for employees of the Departments under their jurisdiction
  • Licensing Board for the Town
  • Fiduciary responsibility for Town finances
  • Signs Warrants for the payment of all Town bills
  • Issues Warrants for Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meetings
  • Engages Town Counsel to represent the Town in legal issues
  • Employs a professional Town Administrator to carry out the Board's policies and decisions
 
MEETINGS
 
The Oak Bluffs Board of Selectmen meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. in the Oak Bluffs Library Meeting Room.  In addition, Special Meetings are called as needed by the Board.  The Board's meetings are open to the public, and residents may address any issues or concerns that they have to the Board during the “Public Comment” portion of the agenda near the end of each meeting. The Board's meetings may also be viewed on Channel 15, the local government public access channel.