Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Seekonk’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect the wetlands and the Runnins River, decide which historic buildings and open spaces the town spends its Community Preservation money on, and guide services for residents. They are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Most members are appointed by the Select Board and serve fixed terms, and the town publishes its vacancies. One body is different and worth knowing about: the Finance Committee is appointed by the Town Moderator, not by the Select Board, and it is the group that recommends yes or no on every article before Town Meeting votes.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development. Its members are elected town-wide to five-year terms.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Seekonk’s wetlands, rivers, and open space under the state Wetlands Protection Act.
- Finance Committee is seven members appointed by the Town Moderator under state law. It reviews the budget in detail from February through April and gives Town Meeting a recommendation on every article.
- Community Preservation Committee recommends how the town spends the Community Preservation fund on open space, historic preservation, community housing, and recreation. Its members come from the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission, the Historical Commission, Parks and Recreation, and the Housing Authority, plus residents appointed by the Select Board.
- Historical Commission is seven members who survey and protect the town’s historic buildings and places, under Chapter 40, Section 8D.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, clinics, and public health rules.
- Commission on Disability is an advisory and advocacy body for equal access and inclusion. It looks for barriers affecting residents with cognitive, developmental, and physical disabilities, and connects people with services. It meets at 4:30 pm on the third Thursday of the month at the Senior Center, 540 Arcade Avenue.
- Medeiros Farm Committee is a seven-member project committee Town Meeting created in 2023, with one seat each from five town boards, one Select Board appointee, and one member of the Medeiros family.
For the full list, current members, vacancies, and meeting schedules, see seekonk-ma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening. The town posts Board and Committee Vacancies on its website, and the Select Board reads the current openings into the record at its meetings.
- Fill out the Talent Bank form or send a letter of interest to the Select Board office.
- Interview. The Town Administrator interviews candidates and makes a recommendation, and the Select Board votes the appointment in open session.
- 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 Seekonk.