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Volunteer Opportunities
Committee Application form can be found HERE.
Committees Currently Recruiting for Existing, Projected, or Potential Vacancies (as of 5/26/2023)
| Board of Appeals | 1 |
| Board of Assessors (Joint Appointment until Next Election) | 1 |
| Community Preservation Committee | 1 |
| Conservation Commission | 1 |
| Council of Economic Advisors | 3 (2 at-large, 1 large business representative) |
| Design Review Board | 1 |
| Golf Course Advisory Committee | 1 |
| Historical Commission | 1 |
| Human Rights Committee | 2 |
| Juneteenth Celebration Planning Committee | 5 |
| Needham Commission on Disabilities | 1 (Applicants must self-identify as living with a disability) |
| Needham Community Revitalization Trust Fund | 2 |
| Needham Community Television Development Corporation | 1 |
| Needham Council for Arts and Culture | 3 |
| Personnel Board (Moderator Appointment) | 1 |
| Water and Sewer Rate Structure Committee | 1 |
Unless otherwise noted, all appointments are made by the Select Board
Annual Reappointment and Recruitment Cycle Information: The Town is now accepting applicants for ongoing vacancies and certain projected vacancies. Interviews are due to being in late May/early June. Residents who apply by May 31st will be prioritized for interviews.
Housing Needham (HONE) Advisory Group *Pending Select Board and Planning Board Adoption
The Town of Needham is seeking residents who may be interested in serving on the proposed Housing Needham (HONE) Advisory Group. This proposed body would play an active role in soliciting feedback and engaging the Needham community to create a zoning district for multi-family housing, as required by state law under the MBTA Communities Act. Resident opportunities on the HONE Advisory Group would be:
-One Architect or Land Use Planner
-One Real Estate Developer
-One Resident Who Rents Their Home
-One Resident At-Large
Pending approval by the Select Board and Planning Board to officially establish the HONE Advisory Group in June 2023, work on this group would start in July 2023.
The Select Board and Planning Board extend an invitation to residents to express their interest via the Committee Application Form. Residents who apply by June 13th will be prioritized for interviews later that week or the following week. If you have questions about the HONE Advisory Group or the application process, please contact Myles Tucker at mtucker@needhamma.gov.
Board of Assessors
The Select Board and Board of Assessors are seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Board of Assessors. The appointed resident would serve through the April 2024 municipal election. The appointee would have the option of seeking election to the seat at that time or resigning at the end of this period.
If you are interested, please apply via the Applicant Interest Form. Applications must be received by May 31st. Interviews will be held via Zoom at 7 PM on June 6th and 12:30 PM on June 7th.
Personnel Board
The Town Moderator, Michael Fee, is seeking applicants interested in being considered for appointment to the Needham Personnel Board. The Needham Personnel Board consists of five persons (registered voters) appointed by the Moderator for three-year terms. The Personnel Board is an advisory board which serves an important role in our Town’s system of checks and balances. Under our Town Charter (Sec. 20B) and the Needham General By-Laws (Sec. 1.11), the Personnel Board represents the legislative branch of our town government (Town Meeting) by assessing certain issues relating to human resource decisions affecting non-school department employees in Needham.
Pursuant to the Needham By-Law, the Personnel Board “advises the executive branch [Select Board and Town Manager] on strategic human resources and collective bargaining matters.” The Personnel Board also reviews articles in the Town Meeting Warrant that relate to human resources, consults with the Select Board and the Finance Committee about them, and makes recommendations to Town Meeting on expenditures proposed to fund collective bargaining agreements. Personnel-related costs are the largest component of our town’s annual operating budgets. For this reason, the objective perspective of a panel of citizens is very valuable to Town Meeting and more broadly to our town.
This is a volunteer position. Experience in the human resources field or experience with collective bargaining is helpful. Applicants are encouraged to send questions or expressions of interest and resumes to the Town Moderator at mfee@verrill-law.com or complete the Applicant Interest Form.
Design Review Board Vacancy
The Needham Select Board is seeking applications from residents interested in serving on the Design Review Board. Qualified persons will preferably have training or education and experience in the art or design professions.
The Design Review Board is charged to review permit applications for all new structures and outdoor uses, exterior additions, exterior alterations, and exterior changes in all areas as specified in 7.7.2.2 of the zoning by-laws. It also reviews requests for all sign permits, as required under Article XIX of the Needham general by-laws.
The Select Board seeks one resident to serve on the committee. The vacancy will be advertised until first interviews are completed on March 16th.
Interested residents are encouraged to apply using the Committee Application Form: https://needhamma.gov/forms.aspx?FID=114. If you have questions about the Design Review Board’s work, please contact Elisa Litchman at elitchman@needhamma.gov.
Applications, or any questions or requests for information, may be submitted to:
Click HERE to access the Committee Interest Form. For questions regarding the process, please email mtucker@needhamma.gov, call 781-455-7500 x204, or send a letter to: Needham Select Board, Attn: Committee Interest, Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492.