Boards & Committees

There are many opportunities to get involved by serving on a Board or Committee in the Town of Wenham.  See below for brief descriptions of each committee and links to their webpages.  Contact the Town Admintrator's Office at 978-468-5520 x.2 or email nroebuck@wenhamma.gov with questions.   Click the link to view current openings:  Volunteer Opportunities 

Cemetery Commission
Charged with maintaining the order and cleanliness of the town’s historic burying grounds. Responsible for developing and maintaining a research file for each historic cemetery including history, land survey info, those interred and living descendants. Charged with overseeing and maintaining records of contemporary burials in historic cemeteries allowed by law for proven descendants or those given permission by living descendants.  

Community Preservation Committee
Community Preservation Act (CPA) provides the Town with a smart growth tool allowing us as a community to identify and preserve vital historic and open space components of our town and to develop opportunities for growth that maintain the town’s heritage and character.  CPA can be used to help create affordable housing projects that will meet the state’s 10% target and help create efficient strategies to preserve and protect our remaining open space from over development and to provide and upgrade recreation facilities. 

Conservation Commission
To preserve and protect the integrity of wetland systems in the Town. The Commission derives its authority from the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Wenham Water Resources Protection Bylaw.  Responsible for the promotion and sound development of the natural resources and protection of the watershed resources of the community. 

Council on Aging
To identify needs of Wenham’s elders, develop programs and services to meet those needs, to educate the community on elder issues and to advocate on behalf of elders. To set goals and objectives and support staff in implementing and promoting the COA’s mission.

Finance & Advisory Committee
Comprised of 5 residents who consider all articles and warrants for town meetings involving an appropriation or expenditure of money or the disposition of any property of the town.  Holds one or more meetings prior to the  annual town meeting at which the Selectmen and other invited officers, boards and committees are present to consider the items which make up the annual budget and any other municipal matters.

Hamilton-Wenham Community Access & Media 
A committee charged with recommending policy, monitoring on-going operation of the cable system and the local cable studio, and assuring that the licensee is responsible to the respective Boards of Selectmen.

Hamilton-Wenham Cultural Council
Works to inform the public, qualify applications, and dispense funds allocated by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency. The budget of the MCC is determined by the state legislature and the MCC's source of funds is the Megabucks lottery game.  Its purpose is to re-grant state funds for community based arts, humanities, and interpretive science projects and activities to benefit the residents of Hamilton and Wenham.  Grant decisions are subject to final approval by the MCC.  

Historic District Commission 
The duties of the Historic District Commission are generally to preserve and protect distinctive characteristics of buildings and places of historic significance in the Town.  Meetings occur on the third Thursday of each month primarily to review applications for Certificates of Appropriateness regarding new construction or modifications to existing buildings located in the Historic District.

Iron Rail Commission
To maintain, repair and protect the Iron Rail property. To aggressively plan for rental, gymnasium and meadow use in order to create income, revitalize the land and encourage active use of the area for educational enjoyment by all townspeople. To work with other town groups in arranging for orderly use of the land, including the layout of roads and the negotiating of locations for specific site use, safety and scheduling.  

Open Space and Recreation Committee
Comprised of residents who have a diversity of interests and experiences, ranging from interest in community character and landscape preservation to economic development and real estate, from active and passive recreation to natural resource conservation. Work to deliver a comprehensive update to the Town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP).   Click *here* to view the full committee charge.

Planning Board
Oversees the rules and regulations governing the subdivision of land, site plan review, and special permits according to the Wenham Zoning By-Law and Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 41, s81. The Board consists of five elected members, with one member to be elected each year in the Annual Town Election.

Veterans Committee
The mission of the Veterans Committee is to perpetuate and support Veterans ceremonies, events, and other activities in the Town of Wenham.  The Veterans Committee will assist veterans and their families, as appropriate, in cooperation with other organizations and agencies. Click *here* for the complete Veterans Committee Charge.

Wenham Affordable Housing Trust

Wenham Connects Committee

Wenham Housing Authority

Wenham Issues of Social Services Help (WISSH)

Zoning Board of Appeals
Exercises all powers granted to it by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapters 40A, 40B and 41 and the Town of Wenham Zoning Bylaw.  The Board hears and decides applications for special permits, appeals or petitions for variances from regulations governing dimensions of land or structures,  appeals taken by any aggrieved by reason of his inability to obtain a permit or enforcement action under the provisions of MGL Ch 40A, and applications for comprehensive permits.

Town Hall Hours

Monday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Tuesday 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

Wednesday & Thursday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Friday Closed

Contact Town Hall

Phone: 978-468-5520

Fax: 978-468-8014

138 Main Street

Wenham, MA 01984

 

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