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Appointed Offices in New Hampshire
Where the nitty-gritty gets done
What are Appointed Positions?
In New Hampshire, some of the most important jobs in local government are appointed, not elected. These appointed positions include hundreds across the state directly involved solving the housing crisis, protecting the environment, and keeping our libraries free of undue political influence.
Types of Appointed Positions
In New Hampshire’s system of local government, there are three main appointed positions, planning board positions, zoning board positions, and library board positions. Planning boards are responsible for establishing plans for the future development of each community, both cities and towns, in New Hampshire. Zoning boards are the primary route through which exceptions are granted to the planning board’s development plan, allowing property owners to request adjustments that enable them to build more housing or change small aspects of their property that would not otherwise be allowed. Library boards are responsible for preserving their town and city libraries and keeping them a refuge for information and free expression.
Where are there Appointed Positions
Nearly every city and town in New Hampshire has vacant positions on their appointed boards. The Forward Foundation keeps and maintains a list of these open positions here. Cities and towns also update their own lists of open positions, which can generally be found on municipal government websites dedicated to each individual board.