While the specific role of the selectman varies from town 
to town, all boards of selectmen have at least four 
important powers under state law: the power to sign 
warrants for the payment of all town bills; the power to 
make appointments to town office; the power to hire 
professional administrative assistance and town counsel; 
and the power to prepare the town meeting warrant. 

/. The power to sign warrants for the payment of all 
town bills. The town treasurer may not issue a single check 
unless a majority of the board of selectmen sign a warrant 
of authorization (MGL 41:56). This affects the town's 
payroll as well as every provider of goods and services. 
Other boards, committees, department heads, and town 
officials may approve whatever payrolls and bills they wish, 
and certainly they should be required to do so before the 
warrants come to the selectmen, but the bills cannot be paid 
until the selectmen sign off on them.