Definition

Noun: - A board of selectmen is a group of officials elected to manage the public affairs and governance of a town, a form of local government traditional in the New England region of the United States.

Usage

• The term is used specifically to refer to the elected executive body in the town meeting form of government.
• It is a proper noun when referring to a specific board (e.g., the Board of Selectmen), but can be used as a common noun in general descriptions.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The structure and powers of a board of selectmen can vary by town charter but typically include responsibilities for town finances, public safety, and appointing certain town officials.
• In some towns, the board may have a chairman or a first selectman who holds additional executive duties.

Variants and Related Words

• Selectman (noun, singular): An individual member of a board of selectmen.
  • He has been a selectman for over a decade.
• Selectboard: A modern, gender-neutral term increasingly used in place of "board of selectmen" in some New England towns.
• Town Council: A different, often larger, form of municipal legislative body used in other parts of the United States.

Synonyms

• Town government (general term)
• Town administration (general term)
• Municipal board (general term)

Related Phrases

• To run for selectman: To be a candidate for election to the board.
  • After years of volunteering, she decided to run for selectman.
• Selectmen's meeting: A formal gathering of the board.
  • The issue was tabled until the next selectmen's meeting.

Noun

1. a board of officials elected to administer the public business of a New England town