Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Council and the School Committee, much of Randolph’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and open space, advance equity, and guide services for older residents. These are the rooms where an ordinary resident, even one too young to vote, can have the most direct hand in a decision.
In Randolph most members are appointed by the Town Manager or the Town Council 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 Randolph’s wetlands, ponds, and open spaces such as Powers Farm and Great Pond.
- Council on Aging guides services for older residents.
- Randolph Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coalition works to make the town’s institutions reflect its residents.
- Health, Equity, and Justice Project connects public health to fairness across the town.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see randolph-ma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s boards and committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest through the town’s application process.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Manager or the Council.
- Serve: attend the public meetings and help make decisions for your town.
Sources
Randolph government website (randolph-ma.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 Randolph.