Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, much of Tolland’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and open space, weigh in on historic places, and guide services for residents. 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: alongside the Selectmen, Tolland voters fill the Moderator, the Board of Assessors, the Planning Board, the Constable, the Library Trustees, and the town’s seat on the regional School Committee. In Tolland 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, and meets the third Monday. Elected.
- Board of Appeals hears zoning variances and special permits, and meets the third Wednesday.
- Conservation Commission protects Tolland’s wetlands, streams, and open space.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget line by line and advises Town Meeting on spending.
- Board of Assessors sets property values and hears abatements. Elected.
- Historical Committee weighs in on the town’s historic places.
- Cemetery Committee oversees the town’s cemeteries.
- Cultural Council awards small grants for local arts and humanities programs.
- Broadband Committee oversees the town-owned fiber network run under Tolland’s Municipal Light Plant.
- Emergency Management plans the town’s response to storms and other emergencies.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the boards and committees index at tolland-ma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the town’s Appointments and Vacancies page, or watch the ballot for elected seats.
- Apply online: the town posts an Online Application for Boards and Committees.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment by the Board of Selectmen, or take out nomination papers with the Town Clerk and run.
- 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 Tolland.