The Wellesley Town Moderator is best know for presiding over Annual Town Meeting and any Special Town Meetings, but this elected position has other important responsibilities as well.
The moderator’s role is outlined under the town’s bylaws and regulations in Article 9.
The term for moderator is one year. Mark Kaplan in 2026 ran unopposed for another one-year term.
In presiding over Town Meeting, the moderator determines questions of order and documents votes on motions. And yes, the moderator gets a gavel to help keep things under control.
The other big job of the moderator is appointing members to various town committees. In Wellesley, this includes:
- Advisory Committee
- Permanent Building Committee
- Human Resources Board
- Audit Committee
- Community Preservation Committee (four members)
- Other communities assigned by Town Meeting
2024 Town Moderator Mark Kaplan explains the moderator’s role in this League of Women Voters of Wellesley video.
