Know your Wellesley appointed officials—Advisory Committee members, and latest news

This page was updated October 2025.

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?

Some fall 2025 issues that been up for discussion during Advisory meetings include Special Town Meeting articles; computer software updates for various town departments; and PFAS issues.

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

Moderator: Mark Kaplan