Boards & Commissions

One of the duties of the City Manager as Chief Executive Officer of the City of Worcester is to appoint members of municipal boards, commissions, and advisory committees. In some cases the nominated appointees must have their nominations approved by vote of the Worcester City Council.

All residents committed to preserving the vitality of our democratic institutions are urged to volunteer their services to one of these local government agencies whose effective operations depend so heavily upon enlightened citizen participation.

Public Notice - Virtual Meetings

Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the “Public Participation” section of this meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, or to join via the Virtual Application follow the link or dial the direct phone line and access code as indicated on the meeting agenda.

• Joining a City Council Zoom Event
• Joining a Teams Public Meeting
• Government Channel Live Stream

Citizen Advisory Council

Worcester's Home Rule charter, as approved by the voters of Worcester in 1986, established a Citizen Advisory Council (CAC), whose function is to assist the City Manager in selecting candidates for appointment. The CAC actively recruits nominees, accepts all applications, and submits recommendations for appointments to the City Manager. The CAC seeks at all times to open up the process of appointment to all social, economic, racial and ethnic groups residing in the community.

Directory of Boards, Commissions and Advisory Committees

Vacancies

Current Vacancies

While some boards must legally require certain types of expertise from candidates, most appointments do not have unusual educational or vocational requirements. Some boards and commissions require neighborhood representation.

To be eligible to serve you must:

• Be a resident in the same district for one year (except for Executive Boards);
• Not be a City employee (except for some Advisory Boards).

How To Apply

Candidates should complete an Online Application at any time, even if there are no current vacancies for your desired Board or Commission.

Online Application

You will receive confirmation that your application, resume and letter of interest were received as well as to confirm your attendance at one of the selection meetings. Selection meetings are held at 6:30 p.m., will be held in a hybrid format and are scheduled on the following dates. You must attend one of the following meetings:

• April 8, 2025 (Levi Lincoln)
• May 14, 2025 (Levi Lincoln)
• June 11, 2025 (Esther Howland)
• July 8, 2025 (Levi Lincoln)
• August 13, 2025 (Esther Howland)
• September 9, 2025 (Levi Lincoln)
• October 7, 2025 (Levi Lincoln)
• November 12, 2025 (Esther Howland)
• December 10, 2025 (Levi Lincoln)

You are welcome to attend any of the scheduled meetings to be considered for an opportunity. However, if a qualified applicant is identified at a meeting prior to the meeting you plan to attend, the opportunity may no longer be available.

A few CAC members will be at the meetings early and available in an informal setting (in person or remote) from 6 to 6:30 p.m. to answer questions from applicants about the application process or answer questions about what board might be a good fit for them.

Applicants from under-represented groups in the City are encouraged to apply.

Please be advised that you may submit an application any time and be notified by mail of the ongoing vacancies that occur on the City Boards/Commissions.

Have a Question?

• How do I get appointed to a City Board or Commission?

  Step 1: Complete the application and submit it with a letter of interest and/or resume.

  Step 2: Attend a selection meeting of the Citizen Advisory Council (CAC). Meetings are open to the public 6:30 p.m. in an accessible public building. Contact Jeannie Michelson at 508-799-1175 to confirm attendance so that the CAC will have your application.

  Step 3: Attend a meeting with a representative of the City Manager. If you are nominated by the CAC, you will be contacted to schedule a meeting with a representative of the City Manager's Office.

  In most cases, the only requirements for eligibility are to live in the City of Worcester.

• What should I do before I attend the Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) selection meeting?
  • Learn as much as you can about the board you are applying.
  • Consider attending one of the monthly meetings of the board you want to join.
  • Review the minutes and recordings of past meetings (available on our website).
• What should I expect AFTER the meeting with the City Manager's Office?

  The City Manager makes the decision about who to appoint. As soon as a decision is made, you will be contacted and asked to meet with the City Manager. If you are selected, you will be asked to attend a meeting of the City Council where you will be introduced.

• What should I expect at the Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) selection meeting?

  The members of the CAC are volunteers and citizens of Worcester. Most of them have been through the interview process that you are going through. They understand how it feels to go through the process and sincerely try to put you at ease during the interview.

  The CAC members will have your application and resume and/or letter of interest prior to the meeting. When your name is called, you will be asked to join them at the table and talk about your interest in the position. They may or may not ask you follow-up questions.

  When you finish addressing the board, the CAC must vote on whether or not to forward your application to the City Manager for further review. You must receive a majority of affirmative votes in order to move forward in the process.

  • A YES vote: You receive a majority of affirmative votes: You will receive a call from the City Manager's Office to schedule an interview with a representative of the City Manager and the City Employee that serves as the Staff Liaison to the board/commission.
  • A NO vote: You may not have received enough votes this time. Please don't give up. Stay engaged and apply again! There are a number of reasons you may not get selected. It could be due to the particular needs of the board at that time. It could be that there are a large number of applicants. Please know that it is normal to apply more than once.
• When should I submit an application for appointment to a Board or Commission?

  Complete and submit an application anytime so that you're notified of future vacancies! If you have an application on file, you will receive email notification of vacancies as they occur. Reply to the email indicating which board you wish to apply and which CAC selection meeting you will attend.

  For an application and more information, visit the links above or contact:

  Jeannie Michelson, Sr. Staff Assistant
  Phone: 508-799-1175
  Fax: 508-799-1208
  Email