The Council of Economic Advisors was established by the Select Board in October 2005. It is charged with six general tasks relating to the promotion of economic development in Needham:

• Study, investigate, and appraise town-wide economic conditions and trends.

• Promote, assist and encourage the preservation, development and location of new and existing industry, business, and commerce.

• Assist the town in attracting the preferred mix of goods, services, housing, recreation, and entertainment in the appropriate districts.

• Make recommendations on improving permitting and licensing functions in the town.

• Evaluate and advise the Town on ideas for zoning changes that will improve the economic vitality of the town.

• Advise and make recommendations to appropriate officials, agencies, boards, and town departments on issues of economic development.

The Town Manager Screening Committee (TMSC) was established by the Select Board in 2024. The TMSC will work with the executive search consultant to interview and recommend final Town Manager candidates to the Select Board. 

The TMSC will:

1. Review the Town Charter and other information relating to the Office of the Town Manager.

2. Review the recruitment process, including any legal requirements. 

3. Review resumes of qualified applicants. 

4. Interview selected candidates.

5. Deliberate and determine the candidates to present to the Select Board for final interview. 

In response to concerns expressed by Needham residents as to the impact new or expanded homes are having on the character of the surrounding residential neighborhood, the Needham Planning Board appointed the Large House Review Study Committee to develop recommendations on how best to ensure that new residential construction in the Single Residence B and General Residence Districts will complement existing buildings, settings and neighborhood character. The Committee will also explore how the updating and upgrading of structures in such neighborhoods can and should be done, while at the same time conserving the neighborhood's distinctive qualities as changes occur. The Planning Board is taking this action with the support of the Select Board.

The Tree Preservation Planning Committee (TPPC) was established by the Select Board in 2024. The TPPC will review options for preserving the Town’s tree canopy (both public and private) and make recommendations for action to the Select Board.  

The TPPC will:

1. Host a public listening session early in the Committee’s work to solicit general thoughts, ideas, questions and concerns from members of the Needham community regarding tree preservation.

2. Review the Town Manager’s working group draft goals for tree preservation and recommend changes as appropriate.

3. Review tree preservation strategies in similarly situated communities.

4. Gather feedback from stakeholders including homeowners, developers, builders and members of boards and committees.

5. Investigate funding sources for tree preservation including grants, fees, and Community Preservation funding.

6. Evaluate and recommend changes to rules, regulations, polices and by-laws to implement tree preservation strategies.

7. Investigate available data on the existence and removal of public and private trees.

8. Develop metrics for tracking tree preservation progress.

9. Develop strategies for raising community awareness about the importance of trees.

10. Identify and report to the Select Board priority tree preservation strategies that could be undertaken prior to the comprehensive plan being finalized or that would have to be advanced in a timely manner for consideration in the Town budget process, Annual Town Meeting, or Special Town Meeting by June 15, 2025. 

11. Develop and present a report to the Select Board on tree preservation strategies for private and public trees.  

The Housing Needham (HONE) Advisory Group was established jointly by the Select Board and Planning Board in 2023. The group will lead the community engagement process to create multi-family zoning that complies with the MBTA Communities Act (MGL c.40A Section 3A). The group will advise the Select Board and Planning Board on proposed zoning to bring to Town Meeting in 2024, informed by their individual expertise, group deliberations, and feedback received from the public.

The Housing Needham (HONE) Advisory Group will:

1. Lead a broad public engagement effort for the Needham community to envision and shape zoning to allow multi-family housing that complies with the MBTA Communities Act.  

2. Utilize the recommendations in the Town of Needham’s 2022 Housing plan as a starting point.  

3. Evaluate build-outs, projections, and analyses of fiscal, school enrollment, and infrastructure impacts provided by staff and consultants.   

4. Consider related zoning elements that are allowed, but not required under the MBTA Communities Act, including but not limited to inclusionary zoning (affordable housing requirements) and parking minimums. 

5. Update the Select Board, Planning Board and Finance Committee throughout the process on group deliberations and community feedback.  

6. Recommend draft zoning to the Select Board and Planning Board to submit to DHCD and Town Meeting.

The Active Recreation Assets Working Group was established by the Select Board in October 2022 to serve in an advisory capacity to guide the Town in space planning for the future of active recreational opportunities in Needham.   The working group will evaluate existing Town-owned assets, identify assets for potential future acquisition, identify unmet needs for active recreation, and review space requirements for each.

The Active Recreation Assets Working Group will:

1. Seek public input to identify unmet active recreation needs including but not limited to action sports parks, pickle ball, tennis, basketball, Charles River access,  and off leash dog areas.

2. Determine asset requirements for each unmet need. 

3. Inventory the Town’s existing assets (land and structures) for potential active recreation use.

4. Identify assets for potential future acquisition for active recreation use.

5. Evaluate opportunities and challenges of existing and potential assets.

6. Prioritize unmet needs and make recommendations for future action including funding considerations and action steps. 

The purpose of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund shall be to provide for the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the Town of Needham for the benefit of low and moderate-income households.