What is the difference between the Historical Commission and a Historical Society?

The goals of the two bodies are similar.  The Historical Commission is a government body with five members.  Its activities are subject to the requirements and standards of any government body, such as the open meeting law, procurement laws, ethics regulations, etc.  Historical societies are private organizations with few restrictions on activities.  With larger memberships and greater latitude in the ability to obtain and spend funds, a society can engage in many more activities to achieve its goals.

Ayer does not have a historical society.  The Commission has worked to organize a historical society in recent years, but there has not been sufficient interest to sustain such an organization.  Anyone interested in forming a historical society can contact the Commission.