Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, much of Dracut’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and ponds, guide services for older residents, and support the arts. These are also the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Most members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen 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 Dracut’s wetlands, ponds, and land along Beaver Brook and the Merrimack River.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, clinics, and public health rules.
- Council on Aging Board guides services for older residents.
- Commission on Disability works on access and the rights of residents with disabilities.
- Cultural Council awards small grants that fund local arts and community programs.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see dracutma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s boards and committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Selectmen’s office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Board of Selectmen.
- Serve: attend the public meetings and help make decisions for your town.
Sources
Dracut government website (dracutma.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 Dracut.