Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Andover’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and open space, weigh in on historic places, and guide services for residents. These are also the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision, because the seats are filled by appointment, not by a town-wide race.
Most members are appointed by the Select Board or the Town Manager and serve fixed terms. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Andover’s wetlands, the Shawsheen River, and town reservations.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, clinics, and public health rules.
- Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advises the town on a more inclusive Andover.
- Preservation Commission helps protect the town’s historic buildings and districts.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see andoverma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s boards and committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Town Manager’s office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment.
- Serve: attend the public meetings and help make decisions for your town.
Sources
Andover government website (andoverma.gov). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your other boards
Board of Health. Tobacco and nicotine sales, flavored products, food permits, and housing conditions. It can pass a binding regulation on its own without a Town Meeting vote, which makes it the fastest lever in Massachusetts.
Planning Board. Where housing or businesses can be built, height limits, and a specific development. It holds the public hearing, and the zoning change itself is voted by Town Meeting or the Council and needs two thirds.
Conservation Commission. A stream, a wetland, a marsh, or a pond.
Library Trustees. Library hours, programs, and policy. The library's money comes from Town Meeting.
Parks and Recreation Commission. A field, a court, a playground, or a park. The money for building one usually comes from Town Meeting.
Historical Commission. An old building, and whether it can be torn down or saved.
Serving on a board is one of the most direct ways to shape Andover.