Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Arlington’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and ponds, weigh in on historic places, and guide services for residents. In a town as built-up as Arlington, where the fight is often over how the next building fits in, these boards carry real weight. They are also the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Most members are appointed by the Town Manager or the Select Board and serve fixed terms. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Redevelopment Board serves as Arlington’s planning board, reviewing site plans and zoning.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Arlington’s wetlands, ponds, and open space.
- Historical Commission helps protect the town’s historic buildings and districts.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, clinics, and public health rules.
- Council on Aging Board guides services for older residents.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see arlingtonma.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
Arlington government website (arlingtonma.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 Arlington.