How To Volunteer For A Town Board Or Commission
Charlestown has over 25 Boards, Commissions, and Committees whose members are appointed by the Town Council.
To volunteer, an applicant must fill out the town’s official Board, Commission, and Committee Application. The application should be submitted to the Charlestown Town Clerk. Applications will stay on file in the Town Clerk’s Office for one year from the date of receipt. Applications can be submitted via email at ARWeinreich@CharlestownRI.gov or by postal mail to Town Clerk, 4540 South County Trail, Charlestown, RI 02813, or by dropping off at the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall. You can attach your resume or any other information to the application.
The table below lists the appointed town boards, commissions, and committees, the number of total member positions, and vacancies as of the date in the table. Even if there are no current vacancies, you can apply and your application will be held for a year in case there is a vacancy. The number of vacancies listed below may include the expiring terms of sitting members.
The name of the board, commission, or committee links to information at the town’s website. This might be a page about the board, commission, or committee, their minutes and agendas, or a listing in the IQM2 system. For those with IQM2 links, choose the board, commission, or committee you are interested in from the “Meeting Group” drop down menu on the IQM2 page.
| Committee Name | Number of Members | Vacancies 03/11/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable Housing Commission | 7 | 4 |
| Agricultural Preservation Committee | 6 | 1 |
| Block Island Sound Bikeway Committee | 5 to 7 | 0 |
| Budget Commission | 5 | 1 |
| Building Commission | 5 | 5 |
| Canvassers | 5 | 0 |
| Chariho Building Committee | 3 | 0 |
| Charter Revision Committee | 3 to 7 | 0 |
| Climate Resiliency Commission | 5 to 7 | 3 |
| Coastal Pond Management Commission | 7 | 2 |
| Conservation Commission | 7 | 2 |
| Custodian of Cemeteries | 1 | 0 |
| Disk Golf Course Ad Hoc Committee | 4 to 7 | 0 |
| Economic Improvement Commission | 7 | 1 |
| Employee Appeal Board | 3 | 3 |
| Friends of Ninigret Park Subcommittee | 5 | 5 |
| Juvenile Hearing Board | 7 | 7 |
| Mosquito Abatement District Council | 5 | 2 |
| Ninigret Park Dog Park | 5 | 0 |
| Ordinance Review Committee | 8 | 1 |
| Parks and Recreation Commission | 11 | 0 |
| Senior Citizens Commission | 7 | 4 |
| Tax Assessment Review Commission | 4 | 3 |
| Tree Warden | 1 | 1 |
| Wastewater Management Commission | 5 | 2 |
| Wood Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council | 2 | 1 |
| Zoning Board of Review | 8 | 1 |
| 250th Commission | 14 | 0 |
| Committee Name | Number of Members | Vacancies 02/08/2026 |
There are other volunteer opportunities in town in addition to those under the town government. Below is a list of links to those organizations. Contact the organization to find out how you can volunteer.
Charlestown Land Trust – Land Conservation in Charlestown
https://charlestownlandtrust.org/
Frosty Drew Observatory and Nature Center – The best star gazing in town
https://frostydrew.org/
Salt Ponds Coalition – Protects the Coastal Ponds
http://www.saltpondscoalition.org/
Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges- Kettle Pond Visitor Center
https://www.friendsnwrofri.org/
Cross Mills Public Library
https://www.crossmills.org/
Or fill out the “Get Involved Survey” here at the CCA website.