Select Board to Tackle Appointments Backlog

October 14, 2026
• After revisiting its appointments process over the summer, the board still has several outstanding vacancies to fill.

The Town of Needham operates on hundreds of volunteer board and committee members, but open seats on those boards stall their work and can delay meetings. With 15 volunteer committee vacancies left to fill, Select Board members will now each assist to expedite the appointment process.

Select Board appointments are typically the responsibility of the vice chair, currently Josh Levy. However, Chair Heidi Frail said residents have reached out to her “regarding the length of time that appointments are taking.” Frail assigned each board member with at least one committee.

“We have been delayed in filling those appointments, partly because of our reassessment of our appointment policy,” Frail said. “It’s now October, and [Special] Town Meeting is next week. It’s time, I believe, to fill these appointments.”

Under the revised policy, Levy has conducted candidate interviews alongside committee chairs in public meetings that are recorded and posted, and discussion and selection of finalists have also been held in publicly recorded meetings. Previously, the vice chair worked with town staff to track vacancies, coordinate with committee chairs and conduct interviews, but those meetings would not trigger the Open Meeting Law, because no subcommittee was formed.

The board revised its appointments policy in July, prompted by an Open Meeting Law complaint. The complaint had forced the board to pause all new and re-appointments while it evaluated its policy.

In an interview earlier this month, Levy pointed to the backlog of vacancies that accrued because of the Open Meeting Law violation. At that time, he said he hopes “it can go faster as we get into a rhythm.” On Tuesday, he pushed back against Frail’s comment regarding concerns from residents, adding he has addressed emails from committee chairs as they’ve come up.

Since July, Levy has aided in interviewing and nominating candidates for the Park and Recreation Commission (one seat), Commissioners of Trust Funds (one seat), and Council for Arts and Culture (three seats), the last of which were approved at Tuesday’s meeting via unanimous consent.

The committees with open seats that the Select Board must fill include:

• Council of Economic Advisors (1)
• Human Rights Committee (4)
• Metropolitan Area Planning Council Representative (1)
• Council on Aging (2)
• Zoning Board of Appeals (2)
• Historical Commission (1)
• Mobility Planning & Coordination Committee (1)
• Town-Financed Community Housing Oversight Committee (1)
• Massachusetts Water Resource Authority Representative (1)
• Needham Community Television Development Corporation (2)

Board discussion on appointments has resulted in several lengthy exchanges. While Levy has contended that the new process increases transparency for both candidates and the general public, other board members have expressed hesitancy with just how public it is, fearing it discourages people from applying.

During public comment, Tina Burgos, chair of the Human Rights Committee, urged the board to assist in filling their open seats. As a 12-person board, the remaining seven of them are all required to attend to meet their quorum, which they have failed to do since June.

“Most frustrating, however, is that we have received a citizen’s discrimination complaint that should have been addressed immediately. Our discussion of that complaint is still pending,” Burgos said Tuesday. “This reflects poorly not only on our committee, but more significantly on a community that has committed itself to being welcoming and inclusive for all. I urge the Select Board to resolve this crisis as soon as possible.”

Former board member Marianne Cooley criticized the revised process, arguing that it leads to awkward situations for candidates and committees and, given that interviews are publicly held, “creates an uneven playing field” and leads to “generic” questions.

Cooley suggested crafting an attendance policy for appointed committees, which is what Dedham does, and a meeting recording policy similar to that in Wellesley.

“All of these measures would strengthen and improve the appointments process in its current incarnation,” Cooley said during public comment. “I hope that town citizens will continue to feel valued for their contributions to our democracy, and I hope the board will support a process which aids community members in feeling comfortable to volunteer their service for the town.”

When asked if he’s observed any discomfort or reluctance from potential applicants, Levy said in an interview that it’s difficult to say. “If someone is not applying, I can’t see it,” he said Oct. 2.

“But I guess I would say, if someone is uncomfortable with the process, I would like to hear that,” he said to Needham Local at the time. “I have not heard that from candidates yet, but you’re right that board members have expressed that.”

There are 52 boards and committees in town, Frail said. The Select Board appoints more than 200 seats on 38 committees, according to previous correspondence from town staff. Recent vacancies have attracted several applicants each.

Frail instructed the board to follow the new policy, either Levy’s way or not.

“Everyone can run their process the way, according to the policy that we have, as you see fit. Whether that’s in public, as the vice chair does it, or in consultation, but not together, so no subcommittees. That is up to you, so long as it complies with the policy,” Frail said. “And we’ll get this taken care of. I think it’s our responsibility to make sure that the boards and committees in this town who count on us to get this done can do their work.”

The Needham Community Television Development Corporation oversees Needham Local and the Needham Channel. The board’s two open seats did not factor into this article’s reporting, writing or editing.