Interested in participating in our Local Government in a whole different way? Like to have a say, but want it to be more than a one-shot deal on a Voting Day? Well, here are some awesome volunteer opportunities to make all your freedom of speech dreams come true!

The Employment Subcommittee has three Commissioners and one alternate.  The Employment Subcommittee approves written examinations for police and fire Civil Service testing and other elements of the testing process such as fitness and medical and job suitability exams, participates in oral interviews with candidates, and may hold hearings on discipline cases.

Qualifications:    A resident of Portland and a person of good moral character.  Although a familiarity with employment practices and the legal process would be helpful, they are not required.  What is necessary is a desire to be involved in a critical but background role, a capacity for objective judgments, and good communication skills.

Disqualifications:    Anyone who is or has been a City employee or City Councilor or anyone who is a relative of a present member of the Police or Fire departments.

Responsibilities: Review any dissatisfaction stemming from any action concerning applicants for general assistance.  Decisions must be in accordance with applicable State Laws and City Ordinances.  The Fair Hearing Officer is required to render a written decision regarding the outcome of a hearing within five working days.

Qualifications: Ability to conduct hearings with a five-day notice.

Ability to be fair, impartial, unbiased, and have no personal or financial interest, direct or indirect, in the hearing or its outcome. The Fair Hearing Officer is scheduled to attend hearings on an as-needed basis.

The Portland Planning Board has responsibility to recommend adoption and amendments to the comprehensive plan of the City of Portland, and to advise the City Council and Departments on implementation measures for the plan.  The Board has jurisdiction to hear, review and approve applications for development including site plans, subdivisions, street vacations, shoreland zone, and other regulations governing development as appropriate.  The Planning Board makes recommendations to the City Council on applications for zoning text and map amendments, contract rezonings, and amendments to or substantial revisions of the Zoning Ordinance.

Police Citizen Review Subcommittee - 3 positions

The City is recruiting for the Police Citizen Review Subcommittee (PCRS) of the Civil Service Commission.  The PCRS reviews the process of police internal investigations of citizens’ complaints against police officers, solicits public input on the police citizen complaint process, reports to the City Manager on the results of their case review, and issues recommendations for improving the internal affairs investigation process, training and public confidence in the citizen complaint process.

Qualifications:  The City is looking for a diverse group of Portland residents who are fair-minded, analytical and of good moral character.

Disqualifications:  Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if s/he is a present or former employee of the City or City Council, and the applicant or any member of the applicant’s immediate family is or has been a Portland police officer, been arrested by a Portland police officer, filed a complaint with the internal affairs unit alleging a civil rights violation or criminal offense, or brought suit against the Portland police department.