The Mayor & City Council of Cumberland is seeking letters of interest from local residents who are willing to serve on several boards and commissions. Expressions of interest will be considered for vacancies on the Administrative Appeals Board, Downtown Development Commission, Human Relations Commission, Planning & Zoning Commission, Neighborhood Advisory Commission, Parks & Recreation Board, Shade Tree Commission, and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Individuals interested in serving on these commissions are asked to submit letters by Wednesday, October 17, 2018, to the Mayor and City Council, Attn: City Clerk, 57 N. Liberty Street, Cumberland, Maryland, 21502, or through email to the City Clerk at margie.woodring@cumberlandmd.org.
The letters will be reviewed by the Mayor and City Council and a final determination for appointments will be made based upon the information provided and qualifications for each seat.
For additional information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at 301-759-6447 or consult the City’s website at www.cumberlandmd.gov.
ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS BOARD: The Administrative Appeals Board was created to assume the responsibilities of the Board of Election Supervisors, Civil Service Commission, and Ethics Commission. The Board meets on an as-needed basis and is composed of five (5) individuals chosen from the community-at-large who serve three-year terms.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION : Vacancies exist for representation in the Primary and Secondary Districts of the downtown. Representatives of the Primary District must be a property or business owner in that district. Representatives of the Secondary District must be a property or business owner in the area bounded on the South by National Freeway (U.S. Route #48) Bridge, on the East by Queen City Drive, on the North by Bedford Street, and on the West by the Wills Creek Flood Protection Wall. DDC members serve three-year terms and meet the second Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall.
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: The members of the Human Relations Commissioners actively engage in fair housing education and outreach throughout the City of Cumberland. Experience in a combination of any two of the following areas is preferred: fair housing, mediation, marketing, banking, rental or home ownership housing services, or event planning. The HRC currently meets the fourth Monday at noon in the Community Development Conference room in the lower level of City Hall.
NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMISSION: The Neighborhood Advisory Commission is charged with maintaining and improving the quality of life in the city’s neighborhoods through a coordination of efforts of the various recognized neighborhood associations. Their duties include making recommendation to the Mayor and Council for neighborhood improvement programs, identifying sources of public and private funds for revitalization, recommending criteria for use in community betterment programs. The Commission meets every other month and the meetings are open to the public.
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD: The Parks & Recreation Board helps to foster continued planning for recreation activities in the city. The Board consists of ten (10) individuals, eight (8) of whom are chosen from the community-at-large to serve five-year terms. This Board meets the first Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION: The Planning and Zoning Commission provides review and approval of major subdivisions and major site plans as required by City Code, and makes recommendations to the Mayor and Council for zoning and development issues. The membership of the P&Z Commission is comprised of five individuals chosen from the community who serve for five-year terms. The P&Z Commission meets at 4:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at City Hall.
SHADE TREE COMMISSION: The Shade Tree Commission meets the first Monday of each month to discuss recommendations for city tree maintenance programs and to develop ways to educate the community on tree management practices. Membership is comprised of seven appointed members who serve four-year terms.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: The Zoning Board of Appeals meets on an as-needed basis to hear challenges to the interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance or Zoning Map and may authorize variances, conditional uses, and nonconforming uses to the Ordinance. Membership is comprised of five members who serve three-year terms and meet on an as-needed basis. This is the City’s only paid board and members receive $25.00 bi-weekly.