City of Portland

Volunteer Opportunities

Board and Commissions

Board of Assessment Review – 2 Alternate positions

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Qualifications: Members need the background necessary to be able to determine the value of real and personal property.  Members should be familiar with the several geographical areas of the City, e.g. the waterfront, downtown, Munjoy Hill, Deering, etc.

Civil Service Commission - 1 position

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.

Friends of the Parks – 4 positions

This Commission serves as an advisory group to help promote parks and recreation in the City.  Meets monthly to review projects, proposals and receive citizen input to provide recommendations to the Department and the City Council.

Historic Preservation Board – 2 positions

Responsibilities: The Historic Preservation Board has jurisdiction to review and approve applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior alterations, site improvements and new construction affecting Portland’s designated landmarks, buildings and sites within historic districts and historic landscape districts.  The Board also makes recommendations to the Planning Board and City Council concerning amendments to the historic preservation ordinance and the designation of additional landmarks, historic districts, and historic landscape districts.

Qualifications:  Members shall have demonstrated interest, knowledge, ability, experience, or expertise in restoration, rehabilitation, or neighborhood conservation or revitalization and shall be residents of the City of Portland.

Terms: Members are appointed for terms of 3 years and may serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.

Meetings: The Historic Preservation Board meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:00.

Landbank – 3 positions

The Land Bank Commission is responsible for identifying and protecting open space resources within the City of Portland. The Commission seeks to preserve a balance between development and conservation of open space important for wildlife, ecological, environmental, scenic or outdoor recreational values. The Commission responsibilities include: working for the acquisition and conservation of open space within the City; recommending to the City Council on a priority basis acquisition or conservation of significant properties; and the pursuit of gifts and funds from private and public sources for the acquisition of open space as approved by the City Council. The Commission has developed an inventory of open space resources within the City. It is engaged in an ongoing effort to proactively protect properties from development through easement, deed restriction, or acquisition.

Portland Housing Authority – 2 positions

The Portland Housing Authority was established in 1943 to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for low-income citizens of the Greater Portland area. Today, it owns and manages twelve housing developments totaling 1,038 units, serving families, elderly, and persons with disabilities.  This locally owned program operates with an annual $7.5 million dollar budget.  In addition, the Authority administers the HUD Leased Housing Program that provides rent subsidies in the private market for qualified applicants.  This program currently provides approximately 2,000 certificates or vouchers to low-income residents and operates with an annual contract authority over $14.5 million dollars.  Together these programs provide assistance to over 6,000 residents, which equal roughly 10% of Portland”s population.  The Authority employs over 90 people to manage and operate these programs.

Portland Public Art – 4 positions

The Portland Public Art Committee is responsible for administering the Public Art Program to preserve, restore and enhance the City-owned public art collection.  The Committee develops and presents to the City Council an Annual Art Plan that recommends expenditures from the municipal percent-for-art allocation, reviews potential gifts of art to the City’s collection according the Guidelines for the Public Art Ordinance, seeks private donations to care for the public art collection, and recommends appropriate locations for the installation of permanent public art.  Members must live or work in Portland.  Experience, training or expertise in one of the following disciplines is desirable: architecture or landscape architecture, accomplishment as an artist, art curator, commercial real estate or development, and/or experience with foundations and development.  Members are appointed to three-year terms.

Additional information is available in the City Clerk’s office, on the City’s website at www.portlandmaine.gov or at 874-8677.  Deadline for submission is May 1, 2009.  Please send a resume and cover letter to Appointments Committee Chairman, c/o Linda C. Cohen, City Clerk, 389 Congress Street, Portland ME 04101 or lcc@portlandmaine.gov. Applicants will be contacted for interviews.