Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Littleton’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions, and the town’s own index lists about forty of them. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and trails, review the budget before Town Meeting votes it, and guide services for residents. They are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have a direct hand in a decision.
What sets Littleton apart is how many of these seats are elected. The annual town ballot carries the Planning Board, the Board of Health, the Board of Assessors, the Library Trustees, the Park and Recreation Commission, the Cemetery Commission, the Housing Authority, the Trust Fund Commission, and the Electric Light and Water Commissioners. Most other boards are appointed by the Select Board for fixed terms, and every one of them meets in public.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development; its seats are elected, with five-year terms.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Littleton’s wetlands, ponds, and open space.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget and advises Town Meeting on spending.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, clinics, and public health rules; its members are elected.
- Light & Water Commissioners govern the town’s own electric and water utility: five members, elected to three-year terms, meeting monthly in public.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see littletonma.org.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s Boards & Committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Select Board office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Select Board, or take out nomination papers with the Town Clerk and run for one of the elected seats.
- Serve: attend the public meetings and help make decisions for your town.
Serving on a board puts a decision about Littleton directly in your hands.