City Government
Woburn Boards & Commissions
What Boards & Commissions Are
Beyond the Council and the School Committee, much of Woburn’s governing happens on volunteer boards and commissions. They approve new development, hear zoning appeals, protect wetlands and historic places, and guide services for older residents and human rights. These are the rooms where an ordinary resident can have the most direct hand in a decision.
In a strong-mayor city most members are appointed by the Mayor, many subject to Council confirmation, and serve fixed terms. The meetings are public, and seats open up regularly.
Key Boards & Commissions
- Planning Board reviews subdivisions, site plans, and major development.
- Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances and special permits.
- Conservation Commission protects Woburn’s wetlands, Horn Pond, and its open space.
- Board of Health oversees public health, sanitation, and inspections.
- Human Rights Commission works to ensure equal access to city services for every resident.
- Council on Aging Board guides services for older residents.
For the full roster, current members, vacancies, and schedules, see woburnma.gov.
How to Serve
- Find an opening on the city’s boards and commissions page.
- Submit a letter of interest or application to the Mayor’s office.
- Interview if asked, and await appointment. Some seats need Council confirmation.
- Serve: attend the public meetings and help make decisions for your city.
Sources
Woburn government website (woburnma.gov). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your other boards
Board of Health. Tobacco and nicotine sales, flavored products, food permits, and housing conditions. It can pass a binding regulation on its own, without a vote of the City Council.
Planning Board. Where housing or businesses can be built, height limits, and a specific development. It holds the public hearing, and the zoning change itself is voted by the City Council: two thirds for most changes, a simple majority for the housing changes the law lists.
Conservation Commission. A stream, a wetland, a marsh, or a pond.
Library Trustees. Library hours, programs, and policy. The money it spends is voted by the City Council.
Recreation Commission. A field, a court, a playground, or a park. The money to build one is voted by the City Council.
Historical Commission. An old building, and how it can be protected and preserved.
Serving on a board is one of the most direct ways to shape Woburn.