What are the formal procedures for applying apply for a special permit, a variance, or a finding, or appealing an action by the building inspector or zoning enforcement officer?

The first step is to obtain a copy of the application.

You can obtain a paper copy from the Rhodes Building or you can download or print a copy from the website. Read the entire application to see what information you will need to provide. However, if you know you want to proceed as soon as you can, then you should immediately contact the Assessor's office and ask for an official list of the abutters to the 
property at issue. Note that the Assessor's hours are restricted, typically 10 AM to noon on Tuesdays. Currently, the official abutter's list costs $25, and the application fee for the desired action is $125 (This fee is used for three purposes: for postage to mail out notices to abutters both before and after the hearing, for advertising the hearing in the /Daily Hampshire Gazette/, and for clerical support related to distributing and recording copies of the application and notices). The application is not complete until (1) all information requested in the application has been provided, (2) an official abutter's list has been obtained, and (3) 12 copies of the application, along with the application fee, are submitted to the Town Clerk (who will not consider the application complete unless all the required information is both submitted and intelligible).