Board of Appeals – 3 positions
Responsibilities: Assists in the administration of the City’s Zoning ordinance by reviewing decisions of the Building Inspector, approving conditional uses and granting variances. The Board functions in a quasi-judicial capacity and members must be able to hold public hearings, make findings of fact and conclusions of law based upon applicable state and local zoning laws, and issue written decisions setting forth their findings and conclusions.
Board of Assessment Review – 3 position
Responsibilities: The Board has power to grant property tax abatements pursuant to state law and to determine the tax exempt status of real and personal property. It functions in a quasi- judicial capacity and members must be able to hold public hearings, make findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with state law, and issue written decisions setting forth their findings and conclusions.
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
CDBG Allocation Committee – 4 positions
The City of Portland receives approximately $2.1 million annually of federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Community Development Block Grant. This group’s task will be to review and score funding applications for the CDBG program, and make recommendations to the City Council for the allocation of CDBG resources.
Responsibilities: Thoroughly review and score each funding application based upon identified priorities and agreed upon scoring criteria. As a result of deliberation and scoring, make recommendations for resource allocations to the City Manager and to the City Council, both in writing and in person at a scheduled Council Meeting.
Qualifications: The City is looking for a diverse group of Portland residents who are fair-minded and analytical. Background or knowledge of accounting or finance a plus. In order to minimize conflict of interest, no staff, board members, contractors or anyone receiving financial gain from an applicant’s proposal can participate on this committee.
Creative Portland Corporation -1 position
The Creative Portland Corporation (CPC) is a newly established non-profit organization created to receive donations, grants, and contributions in support of and to assist the City of Portland’s economic development efforts which enhance, support, and create creative economy business and arts district development and employment opportunities.
All Directors, with the exception of the ex¬ officio members, must be either residents of, own a business located in, or work in the City of Portland.
Fair Hearing Officer – 1 position
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.
Portland Fish Exchange A – 1 position
Portland Fish Exchange B – 1 position
Portland Fish Exchange C – 1 position
Landbank - 2 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.
Responsibilities: Pursue funding resources for the acquisition of open space; create an inventory of open space property in the city and make recommendations for the protection and/or acquisition of open space that is environmentally significant.
Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:00 P.M.
Police Citizen Review Subcommittee - 2 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.
Portland Public Art – 1 position
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.
Portland Development Corporation – 2 positions
Responsibilities: Institute economic development programs in the Portland area to insure compliance to City’s goals, objectives and requirements. Review loan and underwriting applications for financing programs. Qualifications: Some or all of the following experience is required: commercial financing, small business operations, commercial real estate, marketing, and have an interest or be active in economic development. Residency in Portland not required.
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 25, 2012. Please send a resume and cover letter to Appointments Committee Chairman, c/o City Clerk, 389 Congress Street, Portland ME 04101 or klj@portlandmaine.gov. Applicants will be contacted for interviews.