Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, Sharon publishes more than thirty boards and committees in its own directory, and residents fill almost every seat on them. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect the wetlands around Lake Massapoag, advise Town Meeting on the budget, and decide how the town spends its Community Preservation money. 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. A few, including the Board of Assessors, the Planning Board and the Library Trustees, are elected on the annual town ballot. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development. Chair Robert Maidman. One seat was on the 2026 ballot.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits. Chair Arnold Wallenstein.
- Conservation Commission protects Sharon’s wetlands, brooks, and open space, and issues the permits that go with them. Chair Peg Arguimbau.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget and advises Town Meeting on spending. Chair Donald Brichta. Its members are elected by Town Meeting itself, under Article 12 of the annual warrant.
- Board of Assessors sets property valuations and acts on abatements. Chair Anne M. Carney, re-elected in 2026.
- Community Preservation Committee recommends how the town spends its Community Preservation Act money on open space, housing and historic preservation. Chair Corey Snow.
- Historical Commission looks after Sharon’s historic buildings and records. Chair James Grasfield.
- Commission on Disabilities works on equal access across the town. Chair Paul Remy.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the town’s Boards & Committees pages.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s boards and committees page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Select Board office.
- Interview if asked. The Select Board interviews applicants in open session and votes the appointments at a later meeting, which is a thing you can watch happen.
- 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 Sharon.