Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Lexington’s governing happens on volunteer boards and committees. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and open space, guard the historic districts around the Battle Green, and advise Town Meeting on how to spend the town’s money. In a town this active, these are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Some members are elected at the town election, but most are appointed, either by the Select Board or by the Town Moderator who runs Town Meeting. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Committees
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and zoning changes that go to Town Meeting.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Lexington’s wetlands, ponds, and more than 1,300 acres of town conservation land.
- Historic Districts Commission guards the look of the historic areas around Lexington Green.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, clinics, and public health rules.
- Appropriation Committee and Capital Expenditures Committee study the budget and advise Town Meeting on operating and capital spending.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see lexingtonma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s boards and committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the appointing authority, usually the Select Board.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment.
- 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 Lexington.