Volunteer Opportunities
Why volunteer to serve the Town of Berlin?
Give your time - make a difference - participate in your local democracy!
Citizen participation in local government is a strong tradition in Berlin. The issues and challenges faced by our local government, and their impact on people’s lives in the community, are important and complex.
There are numerous opportunities to participate in Town affairs, help shape policy, work with interesting people, and assist in the growth and prosperity of the Town. We hope you will share your skills and knowledge with us by volunteering for the Town.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
The Town Clerk's Office is the official keeper of all board and committee members (elected and appointed, respectively).
ELECTED OFFICE: For information about running for popularly elected offices, please contact the Town Clerk's Office.
APPOINTED OFFICE: Many committees and offices are appointed by vote of a Town "Appointing Authority" such as by vote of the Select Board, Planning Board, or singularly by the elected Town Moderator, for example. The Town Administrator may also appoint volunteers to fill roles.
- To see a list of Select Board-only appointed committees, click here.
- To see the Select Board's Appointed Volunteer Handbook (approved 1/11/2021), click here.
- REQUIRED for Select Board (Re-)Appointees effective 5/25/2021 - Signing and filing at the outset of each term the Code of Conduct & Ethics for Boards, Committees and Commissions Form
If you have a question about a vacancy and the commitment required to serve on a particular board or committee, please contact the board or committee Chair directly. Contact information for most boards and committees is posted on several committee webpages, but if not available online please contact the Select Board or Town Clerk's Offices to be put in touch with the appropriate official who can assist you further:
- Select Board's Office at (978) 838-2442 or email selectmen@townofberlin.com
- Town Clerk's Office at (978) 838-2931 or email townclerk@townofberlin.com
Before submitting a Volunteer Application Form, it is strongly recommended that any prospective applicant:
- ATTEND meetings of the Board/Committee of interest - meetings of Town public bodies are posted on www.mytowngovernment.org/01503
- COMMUNICATE with the Chairs and Members of the various Boards/Committees to understand what membership entails in terms of time commitments, meeting schedules, and desired expertise (if any is required).
- Select Board Vacancies as of 6/16/2022 - click here
APPOINTMENT APPLICATION PROCESS:
If interested in appointed Town Government committee service, kindly fill out the Volunteer Application Form and submit it to selectmen@townofberlin.com. The Select Board Office can forward your application to the correct committee for a vote of recommendation to the committee's Appointing Authority. If appointed, the Appointing Authority generally advises both the appointee and Town Clerk's Office (in writing) of the name of the appointee, post filled, and duration of term to serve. Thereafter the appointee must visit the Town Clerk's Office before they may legally participate in the business of the Town Board or committee.
BEFORE VISITING THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE:
- All Municipal Employees must complete the Massachusetts Ethics Commission's certification process every two years and keep the resulting (printed) certificate filed & up to date with the Town Clerk's Office. Please fulfill this requirement by taking the online exam, printing the certificate upon completion, and bringing it with you to the Town Clerk's Office when being sworn into office. See the Massachusetts Ethics Law certification process for municipal officials
- Select Board Appointees should bring their completed/signed Code of Conduct & Ethics for Boards, Committees, and Commissions Form.
AT THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE
- Administration of the oath of office by the Berlin Town Clerk’s Office
- Sign to accept/acknowledge receipt of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law
SELECT BOARD appointees are also required to sign/date/return the following forms to the Select Board Office:
- Code of Conduct & Ethics for Boards, Committees, and Commissions Form
- Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy
- In some instances, when working with vulnerable populations as defined by the Town's CORI policy, a criminal background check may be required annually. If so, that Town of Berlin-specific CORI authorization form is also required along with a photocopy of the applicant's valid Government-issued photo ID (ex. Mass. Driver's License, US Passport). CORI criminal background checks are performed for the Select Board office by the Treasurer's Office.
Also, be advised of Massachusetts State Law applicable to all Town volunteers/employees: