Hey Yankee Boys. I gotta question. What are town selectmen? It seems to ba a Yankee term. So I figured maybe y'all could enlighten this poor white trash down heya.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_selectmen

Its a New England thing.

Where I come from they are called council members.

If the town were a city, they'd be called the city council.

 

Among other things, they appoint the police chief and the fire chief.  They hear requests for variances.  They also make appointments to town committees such as the conservation commission, the council on aging, etc.  Other town positions such as the town clerk, board of health, planning board, etc., are elected offices.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_selectmen

Its a New England thing.

 

Do they call the ladies "selectwomen"? (That's a serious question even if it may not sound like one).