Town Government
Warwick Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Selectboard and the School Committee, much of Warwick’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 with no appointed administrator, these rooms are where an ordinary resident can have a direct hand in a decision.
Some boards are appointed by the Selectboard, permanent and ad hoc. Others are elected on the town ballot: the May 2026 election filled seats for the Assessor, Board of Health, Constable, Library Trustees, Cemetery Commissioner, Highway Commissioner, Transfer Station Commissioner, and the Moderator. In Warwick 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 land use, and meets the second Thursday of the month.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Warwick’s wetlands, streams, and open space, and meets the first Monday of the month.
- Finance Committee reviews the budget line by line and advises Town Meeting on spending.
- Board of Health oversees inspections, trash rules, and public health. Elected.
- Open Space and Town Forest committees look after the town’s conservation land, and the Recreation Committee runs youth programs and Moore’s Pond Beach.
- Historical Society and Meetinghouse Committee care for the town’s historic places.
- Communications Committee oversees the town’s website and the Warwick Broadband network.
- Cultural Council and Council on Aging support the arts and services for older residents.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see the committees index at warwickma.org.
How to Serve
- Find an opening. Ask the Selectboard office which appointed seats are open, or watch the spring ballot for the elected ones.
- Put your name forward: tell the Selectboard you are interested in an appointed seat, or take out nomination papers with the Town Clerk to run for an elected one.
- Get seated: await appointment by the Selectboard, or win the seat at the annual town 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 Warwick.