Know your Wellesley appointed officials—Advisory Committee members

This page was updated June 2024.

The Wellesley Advisory Committee is made up of fifteen residents, appointed by the Moderator. The term of appointment is three years, and roughly one-third of the membership turns over each year.

Advisory’s tasks

Being on Advisory is an essential part of Wellesley town governance. Being on Advisory can also be a time-consuming (and thankless) task. Here’s what members do:

• review all requests for annual operating and capital appropriations
• make recommendations to Town Meeting on all Warrant Articles presented to Town Meeting
• weigh in on all significant matters in town
• to learn much, much more, check out our 2022 post, What the heck is Wellesley’s Advisory Committee, anyway?

Ways to get appointed to Advisory

• recommendations by current or former elected officials
• recommendations by people who are active in town government, whether in appointed or elected positions
• recommendations by citizens who pay attention to down doings and who aren’t afraid to speak up

What helps (or hurts) your case in getting on Advisory

• your precinct
• age
• gender
• employment status and/or history
• general background/life experiences
• your kids
• time you’re able to give

There’s no right or wrong precinct, age, gender, etc. What Moderator Mark Kaplan looks to achieve is a Committee that isn’t stacked with members from any one particular profession (can’t have all lawyers); or one that is full of Fiske School families; or skewed heavily toward retirees. The town’s website  says, “Membership on the committee reflects a cross section of the Town’s residents.”

Terms begin July 1. No member of Advisory may serve for more than six consecutive years.

The Moderator and the Fifteen—through 2027

Moderator: Mark Kaplan

Patty Quigley, Chair—term expires 2025
Gail Sullivan, Vice Chair—term expires 2025
Jay Prosnitz, Secretary—term expires 2026
Shawn Baker—term expires 2025
Christia Dougherty—term expires 2025
Tamara Sielecki—term expires 2025
Hanna Bonin—term expires 2026
Philip Jameson—term expires 2026
Lucienne Ronco—term expires 2026
Donna Stoddard—term expires 2026
Mark Benjamin—term expires 2027
Jason Bock—term expires 2027
Kenneth Largess—term expires 2027
Penny Rossano—term expires 2027
Douglas Wilkins—term expires 2027

The Moderator and the Fifteen—through 2026

Moderator: Mark Kaplan

Recent Advisory Committee doings

Advisory in October 2023 was tasked with reviewing Articles on the fall’s Special Town Meeting warrant that dealt with everything from financial matters including salaries, debt, and supplemental budget appropriations to zoning issues including the inclusionary variety. The Advisory Committee voted unanimously for favorable action on most motions, though did vote to recommend unfavorable action on Article 15, which involves permitting new uses in education districts (i.e., the Sisters of Charity property).