Board of Assessment Review – 1 Alternate 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.
CATV – 2 Positions
Responsibilities: This Committee is composed of 3 City Councilors, one of whom is chairperson, 1 School Committee member and 3 members of the public. The Committee oversees compliance with the City’s Franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable Company, and with State and federal consumer protection laws; oversees the Franchise renewal process, which is currently in process; reviews subscriber complaints, Time Warner reports and operations; and reviews the operations of the public, educational and governmental channels.
Civil Service Commission - 2 positions
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.
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.
Friends of the Parks – 3 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.
Harbor Commission – 1 position
Responsibilities: Reviews construction plans. Protects the rights of harbor
users.
Qualifications: Familiarity with Portland Harbor and Casco Bay and an interest
in its growth. Capacity to become familiar with issues such as vessel access
rights; coastal zone management conflicts and other aspects of marine law and
marine engineering. Fair and objective reasoning skills. Good communication
skills.
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.
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 – 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.
Portland Housing Authority – 1 position
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 $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 – 2 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 16, 2008. 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.