Committees & Boards

Membership Details

While the members of the Board of Selectmen are not generally available in the Administrative offices during the course of the business day, any concerns or questions can be addressed by the Administrative staff and/or the Town Administrator. If listed in the local telephone directory, the Selectmen may be reached at their homes.

Members of the Board of Selectmen are elected by the voters. Anyone interested in running is encouraged to Email the Town Clerk for more information about the candidacy filing period, which takes place in January, and is subject to a deadline.

History of Governance

Since its incorporation, the Town of Windham and its residents have been served by dedicated members of the community, giving generously of their time and expertise to the betterment of the town. With the exception of the first three years after the granting of our charter, the Windham Board of Selectmen always consisted of 3 elected members. It was not until over 240 years later, in 1987, that the growth in town prompted the Annual Town Meeting to increase the Board’s membership to five.

Responsibilities

Although the configuration of the Board has undergone changes, the duties and responsibilities it is charged with have varied very little through the years. The addition to the staff of our Town Administrator in 1988 has lessened the burden on the Board in - among other things - managing the day to day operations of the Town, as well as preparation of budgetary matters and oversight of personnel issues, however it has not removed these responsibilities entirely. Working in cooperation with the Town Administrator, Department Heads, employees, residents, and a host of others, the primary objective of the Board remains the oversight and management of the Town’s financial, departmental, and community affairs

Membership

Membership of the Commission consists of 5 regular and 3 alternate members appointed by the Board of Selectmen. All appointments, except those made to fill an unexpired term, are for 3 years, and expire in June. Any resident interested in volunteering their time as a member of the Conservation Commission is encouraged to contact the Town Administrator.  

Responsibilities

The Commission deals primarily with issues such as wetland and aquifer protection and the review of subdivision plans for compliance. Persons interested in meeting with the Commission should contact the Conservation Secretary at (603) 432-3806.

Responsibilities

The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) deals primarily with requests for variances from the Town’s zoning regulations. 

Contact Us

Persons interested in meeting with the ZBA should contact the Board of Adjustment Administrator at 603-432-3806.

Responsibilities

Consisting of 3 elected members, the Trustees of the Windham Cemeteries are charged with oversight of the cemeteries, sale and maintenance of grave lots, and coordination of interments. The Trustees operate in accordance with State statute, and adhere to their own adopted by-laws, as well. Any questions pertaining to burials, historical cemetery documents, meeting minutes and the like should be referred to the Trustees.

Membership
Any resident interested in volunteering their time as a member of the Committee is encouraged to Email the Town Administrator.  Committee members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen, and the membership is comprised of 5 Regular members. 2 are members of the Conservation Commission, and the remaining 3 are residents of the Town.

Establishment

The Windham Forestry Committee was established in 2014 by the Board of Selectmen following an affirmative Town Meeting vote to create a Town Forest comprised of various town-owned parcels as authorized under RSA 31:110. As established, this Forest encompasses the following 6 parcels of Town Conservation Land located in the area of Bayberry Road: 25-R-7010, 25-R-8000, 25-R-7025, 25-R-103, 25-R-6500, and 25-R-6000A. Collectively, these parcels comprise approximately 201.4 acres.

You may view a map of the area, the Map Street Outline (PDF). At the March 2017 Town Meeting, by-laws were adopted for the management of the Forest, you may view the Management of the Forest By-Laws (PDF).

Responsibilities

The Forestry Committee is responsible for the management of the Town Forest and, as required in NH RSA 31:111, performs the following functions:

• Develops a Forestry Management Plan.
• Encourages the proper management of the timber, firewood, and other natural resources associated with the Forest through plantings, timber stand improvements, thinning, harvesting, reforestation, and other multiple use programs consistent with an approved Forest Management Plan.
• Identifies and pursues Federal, State, and other grants and funding for the purposes of managing and maintaining the Town Forest.

Town Forest Stewardship Plan

The town is interested in a multiple use concept for its forested properties. This concept includes recreation, wildlife habitat, soil and water conservation and sound long term sustainable timber management. One of the many benefits that can be derived from long-term sustained yield forestry is the generation of periodic revenue from timber harvests.

Far more important is that responsible timber harvesting also encourages the growth of quality trees that remain after the harvest as well as the establishment and or release of tree regeneration, in order to grow tomorrow’s forest beneath the forest of today. Forest management can also be beneficial to wildlife in that harvesting has the potential to create browse from sprouting cut trees as well as provide cover for wildlife as the seedling trees develop into saplings.

View the Town's Forest Stewardship Plan (PDF) and Soils Addendum (PDF).

Responsibilities

The Highway Safety Committee is comprised of various town Department Heads and four (4) citizens at large. The Committee meets once a month, when necessary, and is charged with ensuring the safety of the Town of Windham's roadways through  review and discussion of issues and subsequent recommendations made to the Board of Selectmen for implementation/placement of signage, repairs and maintenance, striping, and the like.

Responsibilities

As part of the New Hampshire Department of Labor Rules, a Joint Loss Management Committee (JLMC) is intended to bring labor and management together as a collaborative team to promote health and safety practices that protects their workforce.

Responsibilities

The Local Energy Committee’s primary role is to advise and assist the Town and its residents on reducing their energy usage and costs. Persons interested in meeting with the Board should contact Dave Sullivan at 603-432-7732.

Membership

Membership consists of 7 to 9 Trustees appointed to 3 year terms by the Board of Selectmen. Residents interested in volunteering their time to the Trustees are encouraged to Email the Town Administrator.

Responsibilities

Formerly known as the Historical Commission, the Searles School and Chapel Trustees were established in 1975 by the Board of Selectmen to preserve, protect, and facilitate the restoration of the historic Searles School and Chapel.

Today, thanks to the efforts of past and present Trustees, the support of the community, and the generosity of countless donors, the building is available to rent for a variety of events and functions such as weddings, graduations, or business meetings. We encourage you to visit the Searles School and Chapel website for more information on the history of the building, Edward F. Searles himself, or to learn how to book your next event with our Building Coordinator.

Membership Details

The Trustees of the Windham Museum are comprised of five individuals appointed by the Board of Selectmen to three year terms. Residents interested in volunteering their time as a Museum Trustee are encouraged to contact the Town Administrator. 

The Trustees are charged with the development and oversight of the Town Museum. The Museum is located in the historic Armstrong Building at 3 North Lowell Road, and will house purchased, recovered, and donated artifacts of Windham's past.