Town Government
Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Select Board and the School Committee, much of Wellesley’s governing happens on boards and commissions staffed by residents. They review new development, hear zoning appeals, steward the open space that runs from Morses Pond and Lake Waban to the Charles River, weigh in on historic places, and check the math on every spending request before Town Meeting votes it. They are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
Some boards are elected on the March town ballot; many others are appointed by the Select Board or the Moderator and serve fixed terms. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Advisory Committee is fifteen residents, appointed by the Moderator, who review the warrant and every appropriation and give Town Meeting a recommendation on each.
- Planning Board reviews development and shapes how the town grows.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Natural Resources Commission stewards Wellesley’s parks, conservation land, and wetlands.
- Board of Public Works oversees the Department of Public Works.
- Historical Commission works to protect the town’s historic places.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see wellesleyma.gov.
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, and await appointment by the Select Board.
- 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 Wellesley.