SELECTEER EEN TAAL▼ CONTACT US -A A A+ Text Size HOME LIVE WORK PLAY GOVERNMENT CONTACT US allentownpa.gov » Government » Authorities, Boards & Commissions Government ► Authorities, Boards & Commissions ► Allentown Arts Commission Allentown City Planning Commission ► Allentown Redevelopment Authority (ARA) ANIZDA Commission on Homelessness ► Environmental Advisory Council Historical Architectural Review Board ► Human Relations Commission Police & Fire Civil Service Board Shade Tree Commission ► Water Sewer (Lease & Operations) Compliance Review Board Zoning Hearing Board Parking Options ► City Controller ► City Council Departments & Bureaus ► Mayor's Office Lehigh County State & Federal Representatives City Budget Home Rule Charter Ordinances Codified Ordinances Proposed Code Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fireworks Right-To-Know American Rescue Plan Act Authorities, Boards & Commissions Below is a summary listing each of the Authorities, Boards, and Commissions, along with a brief description of each and the special requirements or experience necessary. If you are interested in serving the City of Allentown in this capacity, please complete the Request for Appointment form and submit it, along with a resume, to the Mayor's Office. Scheduled meetings, meeting details, and meeting agendas can be found on the Legistar Calendar. AUTHORITIES Allentown Area Hospital Authority - The authority has the authority and purpose to acquire, hold, contract, improve, equip, furnish, maintain, own, lease, and operate hospitals and related medical and service facilities. The authority meets as needed. The authority is organized under state statute, where City Council is the appointing authority, but where, under the administrative code, Council has delegated its power to appoint to the Mayor and has reserved the right of advice and consent only. (Member Requirements: 5 members appointed to staggered 5 year terms). Allentown Commercial and Industrial Development Authority - This authority is a financing conduit for Industrial Development bonds, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, and other economic incentive programs. Staff support and management is provided by the Allentown Economic Development Corp. (AEDC). The authority meets as needed. It is organized under state statute, where City Council is the appointing authority, but where under the administrative code, council has delegated its power to appoint to the Mayor and has reserved the right of advice and consent only. (Member Requirements: 5 Members appointed to staggered 5 year terms) Allentown Housing Authority - The authority owns and manages 1,500 units of subsidized housing within the City of Allentown for both elderly and low-income tenants. This governing board is organized under state statute where the Mayor appoints its members with the advice and consent of City Council. The members meet at 9:00 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Allentown Housing Authority office. Members must be residents of the City of Allentown. (Member Requirements: 5 members appointed to 5 year terms) Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority (ANIZDA) - ANIZDA was established pursuant to the law governing Neighborhood Improvement Zones (NIZ). The Authority may acquire, hold, construct, improve, maintain, own, finance and lease commercial development projects within the NIZ. Allentown Parking Authority - The authority shall provide efficient and equitable parking services to the public to meet the needs of the growing and changing City of Allentown and promote economic growth particularly in the downtown business area. (Member Requirements: 5 members appointed to staggered 5 year terms) Allentown Redevelopment Authority (ARA) - ARA’s mission is to assist with the prevention and elimination of blighted properties within the City. They acquire “Certified Blighted” properties through the eminent domain process. Once a property is in ARA’s inventory, they work with qualified developers, contractors and property owners to rehabilitate the properties to bring them into code compliance. ARA is organized under state statute and the Mayor appoints the members. The board meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 2:00 p.m. in Alliance Hall. (Member Requirements: 5 members appointed to 5 year terms) BOARDS Animal Control Hearing Board - This board meets as needed and conducts determination hearing to identify dangerous animals. This board was established by ordinance, where the Mayor appoints its members with the advice and consent of City Council. (Member Requirements: 5 members and 5 alternates appointed to 4 year terms) * This board has never met. After the board was established, the state passed a law to deal with dangerous dogs. This law overrides our ordinance, even though our ordinance states that this board would deal with all dangerous animals, not just dogs. Appointments and reappointments are not necessary. Board of Ethics - The Board is responsible to administer the City's Code of Ethics. This Board was established by ordinance by City Council, where the Mayor appoints its members with the advice and consent of Council. Members meet as often as the Mayor or City Council requests. No more than two people on this Board can be from the same party. (Member Requirements: 5 members appointed to 3 year terms) Board of Health - The board is the City Health Bureau's chief advisory group in matters and problems that impact public health. The board is established in state statute, where the City Council has delegated its power to appoint to the Mayor, reserving the right to provide advice and consent to the Mayor's recommendations. The group meets on the first Thursday of every month (except July and August) at noon in the Health Bureau offices in Alliance Hall, 245 N. 6th Street. (Member Requirements: 5 members serving 5 year terms). Building Code Board of Appeals - With advice and consent of City Council, the Mayor appoints the members to this hearing board. Their duties are to hear appeals from citizens and other parties who disagree with orders or directives issued by the City staff members, who enforce the Building Code ordinances. The Board meets as needed, which typically is on a monthly basis at City Hall. (Member Requirements: 5 regular members and 5 alternates appointed to 5 year terms) Center City - Hamilton Mall Review Board - This board review the aesthetics of commercial signage on Hamilton Mall. Its members meet as needed to review signage applications, and are appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of City Council. (Member Requirements: 5 Citizens; appointed to 6 year terms) Disruptive Conduct Board of Appeals - Any person aggrieved by a decision of a City staff person relating to a Disruptive Conduct Report or the revocation of a Residential Rental Registration or Residential Rental License based upon the issuance of Disruptive Conduct Reports may appeal to the Disruptive Conduct Board of Appeals. The board meets as needed. (Member Requirements: 7 members appointed to staggered 3 year terms) Electricians Examining Board - This board, which is established in ordinance by City Council, is appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council. It meets quarterly to arrange for the testing of various classes of electricians. (Member Requirements: 7 members; one member is City employee; appointed to 4 year terms). Historical Architectural Review Board - The HARB administers the Historic District Ordinance (Article 1391) by reviewing proposals for exterior alterations to buildings in Old Fairgrounds, Old Allentown and West Park Historic Districts. The board typically meets the first Monday of each month at 6:00 PM in City Hall. Members of HARB are appointed by City Council and serve three year terms. There are 7 regular board members and 4 alternates. The HARB is mandated by state regulation and the ordinance to have a registered architect, a licensed real estate broker, and a building inspector on the board. All other members must be residents of the City. Council may appoint a person who is not a resident if they own property or a business in the City. Noise Control Hearing Board - This committee meets as needed to resolve differences between the Noise Control Officer and owners of any improved properties. The board interprets and executes the provision of the Noise Control Ordinance, which enables its existence. The board was established by ordinance of City Council, where the Mayor appoints members with City Council's advice and consent. (Member Requirements: 5 members appointed to 5 year terms) Plumbers Examining Board - The plumbers examining board shall investigate all applicants for licenses and shall report to the Director of Community Development the results of all examinations which it shall administer to applicants. It shall investigate and hear all written complaints against holders of such licenses and report to the Director of Community Development its findings and recommendations. It shall keep minutes of its proceedings and hearings and records of its investigations and examinations of applicants for licenses. (Member Requirements: 5 members appointed to 3 year terms) Police & Fire Civil Service Board - The Board's members are charged with developing the rules and regulations covering the City's preparation of Civil Service eligibility requirements for candidates to be considered for employment and promotion when vacancies occur in the Police and Fire Departments. (Member Requirements: 3 members & 3 alternates appointed to 4 year terms) Property Rehabilitation and Maintenance Code Board of Appeals - This board hears variance requests from orders or directives given by the City employees who enforce the Property Rehabilitation and Maintenance Code ordinance. Meetings of this Board are scheduled as needed, usually once a month. The board was established by ordinance of City Council, where the Mayor appoints members with City Council's advice and consent. (Member Requirements: 5 members and 2 alternates appointed to 4 year terms) Recreation Board - This Board acts as an advisory body to promote recreation programs and facilities. Members meet the second Thursday of each month at 11:30am at the Recreation Bureau, 3000 Parkway Boulevard. The Board does not meet during June, July, and August. Its members are appointed by the Mayor with advice and consent of City Council. ( Member Requirements: 12 Citizens (including a Councilmember and 2 School Board Members for as long as they continue to be members of the Allentown School Board appointed to 5 year terms) Sewage and Industrial Wastes Ordinance Hearing Board - The board's members meet when required to resolve points of contention involving the City's Sewage and Industrial Waste Ordinance. The board was established by ordinance of City Council, where the Mayor appoints members with City Council's advice and consent. (Member Requirements: 5 members appointed to 4 year terms) Water and Sewer (Lease and Operations) Compliance Review Board - The Board is established to promote transparency by reviewing compliance issues including customer service, capital programming, and reports relating to the City of Allentown’s lease concession agreement with Lehigh County Authority for water and sewer services. The Board serves as an advisory body to the City’s Compliance Office, whose mandate includes direct oversight of the concession. The Board will meet quarterly and at other times at the request of a majority of the members. (Membership: five (5) members; two from City Council, two at large, and one non-governmental serving 4 year terms.) Meeting location: City Hall, Council Chambers. Zoning Hearing Board - This board hears and decides appeals where the appellant alleges that the City Zoning Officer has failed to follow prescribed procedures, or has misinterpreted or has misapplied any provision of a valid ordinance or map, or any valid rule or regulation governing the action of the Zoning Officer. The board also hears requests for variances when the appellant alleges that the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance inflict unnecessary hardship upon the applicant. The board meets Monday nights as needed at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, based on applications filed with the Zoning Office. The board was established in the administrative code of City Council, where the Mayor appoints members with City Council's advice and consent. (Membership: 3 members and 3 alternates serving 4 year terms) COMMISSIONS Allentown Arts Commission - The commission promotes and encourages public artistic programs, furthers the development and public awareness of and interest in the fine and performing arts, and acts as an advisory board to the City in all matters pertaining to the arts and cultural development of Allentown. The Commission meets the third Thursday of every month at 9:00 a.m. in Allentown City Hall- Conference Room 5-1. The Commission is established in ordinance, where the Mayor appoints members with the advice and consent of Council. (Member Requirements: 15 Members appointed to staggered 5 year terms) Allentown City Planning Commission - This commission is primarily responsible for the preparation of the City's Comprehensive Plan and all of the activities associated with implementing the goals and objectives of that Plan. The commission prepares a zoning ordinance, administers the land development and subdivision ordinances, prepares a six-year capital improvement plan, and other related duties. This body is organized under state statute, where the Mayor appoints members with the advice and consent of Council. The commission meets the second Tuesday of each month at 12:15 p.m. in City Hall. (Member Requirements: 7 members appointed to staggered 3 year terms) Environmental Advisory Council– Allentown City Council and the Administration of the City of Allentown deem it to be in the best interest and general welfare of the citizens and residents of the City of Allentown to be advised as to environmental issues within the City of Allentown; to encourage sustainable design and the use of renewable energies, the protection and preservation of natural resources within the City of Allentown, and maintaining possible uses of open land in the City of Allentown. This council was established in the administrative code of City Council. The council shall be composed of seven (7) residents of the City; the Mayor appoints five (5) members with City Council’s advice and consent, two (2) are appointed by City Council. The Council meets the second Monday of every month in the 3rd floor conference room in City Hall at 5:15 p.m. Commission on Homelessness - This Commission was established by City Council ordinance and is committed to preventing homelessness, ending chronic homelessness and decreasing situational homelessness. The Commission meets every month at TBD PM. at City Hall. The Mayor appoints the members with the advice and consent of City Council. (Member Requirements: 15 members. Term Limits: Four years, except that initial appointments shall be so staggered that the terms of the members shall expire each year.) Human Relations Commission of the City of Allentown - This commission was established by City Council ordinance and has the responsibility to protect and encourage diversity within our community. The Commission simultaneously enforces the housing-related aspects of the City's civil rights law and disseminates prejudice-reduction information. The Commission meets the 1st Thursday at 7pm in City Hall. The Mayor appoints the members with the advice and consent of City Council. (Member Requirements: 13 adult members and 3 student members appointed to 3 year terms) Investment Advisory Committee - This committee was established by a resolution of City Council for the purpose of providing advice to the Director of Administration and Finance regarding the investment of City funds. In addition to establishing and reviewing the City's investment policy, the Committee reviews investment performance to insure compliance with state statutes and maximize returns within those constraints. This committee meets on the second Tuesday of February and August, or as is required. (Member Requirements: 4 members - 2 City residents, a Councilmember, and the Manager of Treasury & Accounting service on the Committee. City Council appoints 1 resident, the Mayor appoints the other resident. No term limit listed. This authority is currently inactive. Shade Tree Commission - The City of Allentown’s Shade Tree Commission maintains jurisdiction of all shade trees or trees planted in the public right of way. The care and maintenance of all shade trees between the curb and the sidewalk is the responsibility of the homeowner. Shade Tree meetings are open to the public and are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 8:30am at the Bridgeworks Building, Public Works Department, 3rd Floor, 641 S. 10th Street, Allentown. If you are planning to attend a meeting, kindly call the office at 610-437-7589 in advance with your concern so we can be prepared to assist you at the meeting. Please see this ordinance for more information. (Member Requirements: 5 members and 2 alternates appointed to 4 year terms) ALLENTOWNPA.GOV Privacy & Security Terms of Service QUICK LINKS Job Opportunities Voting and Elections Maps Human Relations Complaint CONTACT City Departments Contact Website Support CONNECT Download Center Social Media Center Events News Subscription City of Allentown - 435 Hamilton Street - 610-439-5999 | Login