Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Bourne’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. The town’s own directory lists more than thirty of them. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect the wetlands and the shoreline along Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay, weigh in on historic places, and guide services for residents. They are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Most members are appointed by the Select Board 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. Elected, not appointed: three three-year seats and a one-year seat were on the 2026 ballot.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Bourne’s wetlands, ponds, and open space, with a Conservation Agent on staff to advise it.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget and advises Town Meeting on spending.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, permits, and public health rules. Its members are elected town-wide.
- Commission on Disabilities works on equal access and ADA compliance across the town.
- Community Preservation Committee recommends how the town spends its Community Preservation money on open space, housing, recreation and historic places.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the town’s own staff and committee directory.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s boards and committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Select Board office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Select Board.
- Serve: attend the public meetings and help make decisions for your town.
Serving on a board is one of the most direct ways to shape Bourne.