Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, much of Oakham’s governing happens on boards and commissions. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and open space, look after the cemeteries, and advise Town Meeting on the budget. In a town that runs itself without an appointed administrator, these rooms are where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Some boards are appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Others are elected on the town ballot: the May 18, 2026 election filled seats on the Board of Assessors, the Board of Health, the Planning Board, the Cemetery Commission, and a Library Trustee, along with the Moderator and a School Committee seat. In Oakham you can be appointed to some of these seats, and you can simply run for the others.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development, chaired by Phillip Warbasse.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Oakham’s wetlands, streams, and open space.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget line by line and advises Town Meeting on spending, chaired by Corey Packard.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, trash and recycling, and public health rules. Elected.
- Board of Assessors sets property values and hears abatements. Elected.
- Cemetery Commission looks after the town’s cemeteries, chaired by Matthew Brunelle. Elected.
- Cultural Council awards small grants for local arts and humanities programs.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the Boards & Committees index at oakham-ma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s Boards & Committees page, or watch the ballot for elected seats.
- Apply for an appointed seat, or take out nomination papers with the Town Clerk and run for an elected one.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Board of Selectmen, or stand for election.
- 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 Oakham.