INDEPENDENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter art. III, ch. 8

in effect

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-800 Fair Housing Commission.

§ 3-800. Fair Housing Commission. The Fair Housing Commission shall be composed of five members. Notes 104 | Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on May 15, 2007, and certified on June 4, 2007. See Bill No. 060682 (approved January 23, 2007); Resolution No. 060706 (adopted December 14, 2006). Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on April 22, 2008, and certified on May 19, 2008. See Bill No. 080006 (approved March 6, 2008); Resolution No. 080041 (adopted March 6, 2008). Section 3-800, City Planning Commission, renumbered to Section 3-908 and amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 3, 2015, and certified on November 23, 2015. See Bill No. 140721 (approved June 16, 2015); Resolution No. 140732-A (adopted June 11, 2015). See Charter subsection A-200(14) for effective date. Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 17, 2022, and certified on June 6, 2022. See Bill No. 220077 (approved February 25, 2022); Resolution No. 220082 (adopted February 24, 2022). See Charter subsection A-200(23) for effective date.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-801 Commission on Human Relations.

§ 3-801. Commission on Human Relations. The Commission on Human Relations shall be composed of nine members. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, March 12, 1948. Purposes: The membership of the Commission on Human Relations is fixed at nine as against five on its predecessor, the Fair Employment Practices Commission, because of the additional duties and powers vested in the new Commission.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-802 Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

§ 3-802. Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia shall be composed of twenty-two voting members and the Parks and Recreation Commissioner. Eighteen members shall be life members of the Board, vacancies among them being filled alternately by election by the Board and appointment by the Mayor. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, December 31, 1894. Purposes: The number and method of appointment of the members of the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia are retained substantially as at present. The Recreation Commissioner is a new member because the activities of the Free Library will be concerned in part with phases of recreation. Notes 105 | Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 4, 2008, and certified on November 28, 2008. See Bill No. 080169 (approved August 4, 2008); Resolution No. 080181 (adopted June 19, 2008).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-803 Board of Pensions and Retirement.

§ 3-803. Board of Pensions and Retirement. The Board of Pensions and Retirement shall consist of the Director of Finance, who shall be its chairman, the Managing Director, the City Controller, the City Solicitor, the Personnel Director and four other persons who shall be elected to serve on the Board by the employees in the civil service in such manner as shall be determined by the Board, and one non-voting member of the Board, appointed by the President of Council, who other than the power to vote shall have all rights, powers and duties of other members of the Board, including, but not limited to, the right to attend any executive session of the Board. 106 Until the elected members shall have been chosen, a majority of the Board at the time being shall constitute a quorum. Thereafter five members shall be a quorum. ANNOTATION Sources: No specific source. Purposes: The composition of the Board of Pensions and Retirement consists of the Director of Finance because the creation and management of pension and retirement funds will present important financial problems; the Managing Director because, next to the Mayor, he will supervise the greatest number of City employees who will be affected by any pension and retirement system; the City Controller because he is the City's auditor; the City Solicitor because of the intricate legal questions which will arise in connection with pensions and retirement benefits; and the Personnel Director because of his concern with personnel welfare. Four other members are to be elected by City employees who will thus have a voice in the administration of the pension and retirement system. A majority of the permanent members is constituted a quorum upon the creation of the Board to permit it to begin to function as soon as possible pending the election of employee representatives. Notes 106 | Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 4, 2003 and certified on December 1, 2003. See Bill No. 030016-A (became law May 29, 2003); Resolution No. 030034 (adopted May 1, 2003).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-804 Civil Service Commission.

§ 3-804. Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service Commission shall be composed of three members appointed from among persons whose names are submitted to the Mayor by the Civil Service Panel. Civil Service Commissioners shall be in sympathy with the application of merit principles to public employment. No member of the Commission shall be a member of any local, state or national committee of a political party, or an officer or member of a committee or organization primarily devoted to partisan political purposes, or shall hold or be a candidate for any elective office. Of the members first appointed, one shall be appointed for a term of two years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of six years. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for terms of six years. Unless and until the Council shall provide a higher rate of compensation, each member of the Commission shall receive a fee of one hundred dollars for each meeting of the Commission which the member attends, but the total compensation payable to any member in any one year shall not be more than $6,000. 107 The Commission shall meet at least once each month. All meetings shall be open to the public unless the Commission shall otherwise direct. ANNOTATION Sources: A Model State Civil Service Law, Section 4. Purposes: 1. Civil Service Commissioners are to be appointed from names suggested to the Mayor by a Civil Service Panel in order to make certain that Commissioners meet the qualifications specified in the Charter. These include the requirements that they be in sympathy with the application of merit principles to public employment and that in the exercise of their powers and fulfillment of their duties they be independent of partisan politics. 2. This is one of the few instances where staggered terms are fixed because it is not a function of the Civil Service Commission to effectuate the policies of any particular Mayor's administration. 3. Substantial remuneration is provided for Civil Service Commissioners because they will be required to devote considerable time to their duties even though they are part-time City officers. Council may increase the compensation fixed by the Charter but may not decrease it. This is another measure to safeguard the civil service system. 4. The Commission is permitted to have executive sessions because the quasi-judicial nature of its work will from time to time require that it be performed in private. However, Section 7-201 gives employees the unqualified right to request public hearings of their cases. Notes 107 | The phrase "each meeting of the Commission which he attends" was changed by the Code editor to read "each meeting of the Commission which the member attends" to be gender neutral consistent with the broad Charter change set forth in the May 17, 2022 referendum. See Bill No. 220001 (approved February 25, 2022); Resolution No. 220009 (adopted February 24, 2022).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-805 Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission and Advisory Committee.

§ 3-805. Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission and Advisory Committee. The Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission shall be composed of fifteen members, appointed as follows: (a) Four members shall be appointed by the Mayor; (b) Four members shall be appointed by the Council President; (c) One member shall be appointed by the City Controller; (d) One member shall be appointed by each of the following: the President of the African-American Chamber of Commerce, the President of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Chief Executive Officer of Greater Philadelphia First, the President of the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce, the President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Executive Director of the North Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. (e) The Commission's Advisory Committee shall consist of twenty-three members. One member of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed by each of the following: the Director of Action Alliance of Senior Citizens of Greater Philadelphia, the Director of Asian-Americans United, the Director of Community Legal Services, the President of the Board of the Consumer Education & Protective Association, the Director of the Keystone Research Center, the President of the National Congress of Puerto Rican Rights, the Director of the Parents' Union, the Director of Philadelphia NOW (National Organization for Women), the Director of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, the Director of the Tenant Action Group, the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the Dean of the Fox School of Business and Management of Temple University, the President of the Greater Philadelphia Association of Realtors, the President of the Institute for the Study of Civic Values, the President of the NAACP Philadelphia Chapter, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Economy League Eastern Division, the President of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Greater Philadelphia Chapter, the President of the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Business Manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, the President of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, the President of the Urban League of Philadelphia, the Executive Director of the West Philadelphia Partnership, and the Dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. If any of those organizations ceases to exist or refuses to make an appointment, the members of the Commission shall by a majority vote designate an organization of a similar nature to make an appointment. (f) All appointments to the Commission and its Advisory Committee shall be made within thirty days after the Commission is first created. (g) No member of the Commission, while serving as a member, shall seek or hold a position as an elected public official within the Commonwealth, or as an officer of a political party. (h) Vacancies on the Commission and its Advisory Committee shall be filled by the appointing authority who originally appointed the member whose seat has become vacant. Notes 108 | Added November 5, 2002, by approval of the voters. See Bill No. 020255 (approved June 12, 2002); Resolution No. 020264 (adopted May 16, 2002).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-806 Board of Ethics.

§ 3-806. Board of Ethics. (a) Composition. There shall be a Board of Ethics consisting of five members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of City Council. Members shall be chosen for their independence, integrity, civic commitment and high ethical standards; they shall be residents of, or have their primary place of business in, the City of Philadelphia and registered to vote. The members of the Board shall elect a chair and such other officers as deemed necessary. (b) Initial Appointments, Term of Service, and Successors. All appointments to the Board shall be made within ninety days after the Board is first created. The terms of the initial appointments to the Board shall be as follows: one member shall serve for a term of one year; one member shall serve for a term of two years; one member shall serve for a term of three years; one member shall serve for a term of four years; and, one member shall serve for a term of five years. Thereafter, all members shall serve for a term of five years. Members shall serve until their successors have been appointed and confirmed. If the Mayor has not submitted to the Council a nomination for appointment of a successor at least thirty days prior to the expiration of the term of the member whose term is expiring, the term of the member in office shall be extended for an additional year and the term of the successor shall be shortened by an equal amount of time. If the City Council fails to act within ninety days of receipt of a nomination for a successor from the Mayor, the nomination shall be deemed confirmed. (c) Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled by nomination by the Mayor made to the City Council within thirty days of the creation of the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term of the member succeeded. If the City Council fails to act within sixty days of receipt of such nomination from the Mayor, the nomination shall be deemed confirmed. (d) Term Limits. No member of the Board shall serve for more than two consecutive five-year terms. (e) Prohibited Activities. No person while serving as a member of the Board of Ethics shall: seek or hold a position as an elected or appointed public official or employee within the Commonwealth (other than as a member of an advisory body that has no authority to expend public funds other than reimbursement for personal expenses or to otherwise exercise the power of the State or any political subdivision thereof), or as an officer of a political party; or, make financial contributions to any candidate for any City office or to any incumbent City official. Members of the Board of Ethics shall be subject to all of the political activities restrictions set forth in Section 10-107 that apply to appointed City officers and employees. (f) Removal for Cause. Members may only be removed for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, inability to discharge the powers or duties of office, or violation of this section, or of ordinances or laws relating to ethical matters after written notice and opportunity for reply. The Mayor shall provide a written notice to the member stating the reasons for removal and file a copy of said notice at the same time with the President of City Council and the Chief Clerk of City Council. An opportunity for the member to reply will be provided at a public hearing of the City Council Committee of the Whole at which the Mayor, or the Managing Director if directed by the Mayor, will also present and explain the reasons for removal. A vote of two-thirds of all the members of Council at a meeting of Council shall be required before such member can be removed. (g) Executive Director, Counsel and Staff. The Board, subject to the availability of appropriations, shall appoint and fix the compensation of an executive director and such other staff and consultants as may be required to exercise its powers and fulfill its obligations. The appointment of an executive director shall require a vote of three of the members of the Board. The Board shall also appoint, by a vote of three members, a counsel to serve at its pleasure subject to the availability of appropriations. The authority of the executive director, counsel and other staff shall be defined in writing by the Board. The Board shall use the services of the Law Department whenever it needs legal advice or is engaged in litigation, except that the Board need not use the services of the Law Department and may rely solely upon the Board's counsel and staff when the Board is investigating suspected ethical violations or is engaged in enforcement activities, and the Board shall not be bound by any opinion of the Law Department in interpreting ordinances relating to ethical matters. (h) Post Service and Employment Restrictions. No member of the Board, its executive director or counsel shall seek any elective City office until two years after the expiration of a term of service or termination of employment. (i) Meetings. The Board shall meet at least quarterly and at such other times as the chair may deem necessary. Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. The Board shall convene its first meeting within thirty (30) days after all initial appointments are made and confirmed. (j) Compensation. Members of the Board shall receive compensation in such amount as ordained by Council. (k) Annual Fiscal Report. Not later than three months after the end of each fiscal year, the Board shall submit to the Mayor, the President of City Council, the Chief Clerk of City Council and the Department of Records a detailed accounting of all of its expenditures during the previous fiscal year. Notes 109 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 16, 2006, and certified on June 5, 2006. See Bill No. 040769 (approved December 15, 2005); Resolution No. 040817 (adopted December 1, 2005).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-807 Youth Commission.

§ 3-807. Youth Commission. The Youth Commission is hereby established. (a) Composition. The Commission shall be composed of twenty-one (21) members, each of whom shall be between the ages of twelve (12) and twenty-three (23) years of age, at the time of appointment. The Commission shall consist of individuals who have an understanding of the needs of young people in the City, or experience with children, youth programs, youth organizations or involvement with school or youth related community activities. The members shall represent the racial, gender, ethnic and cultural diversity of the City and shall be residents of the City. (b) Appointments and Terms of Service. Each member of the Council and the Mayor shall appoint one (1) member to the Commission. The Mayor shall also appoint three (3) additional members from communities underrepresented by the other appointments made, to ensure that the Commission represents the diversity of the City. Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. Initial appointments shall be made promptly after the organization of the Council on the first Monday of January, 2008. The first term for all Commission members shall end on March 1, 2009 and thereafter shall be for one (1) year. (c) Removal of Members. Any member whom the Commission certifies to have missed three (3) regularly scheduled meetings of the Commission in any six (6) month period, without prior authorization of the Commission, shall be deemed to have resigned from the Commission effective on the date of the written certification from the Commission. (d) Compensation. Members of the Commission shall not be compensated. (e) Meetings. The Commission shall conduct regular meetings at least once a month at a designated time and place, shall prepare and maintain permanent minutes of the actions taken during its meetings, and shall file copies of such minutes with the chief clerk of the Council. Notes 110 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 15, 2007, and certified on June 4, 2007. See Bill No. 060581 (approved January 23, 2007); Resolution No. 060596 (adopted December 14, 2006).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-808 Zoning Code Commission.

§ 3-808. Zoning Code Commission. The Zoning Code Commission shall be composed of thirty-one members, selected as follows: (a) Executive Director City Planning Commission, who shall Chair the Commission; (b) Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections; (c) Chairman of the Zoning Board of Adjustment; (d) Three Councilmembers appointed by the Council President, not all whom shall be from the same political party; (e) A representative (each with an alternate designated for the duration of the initiative) from each of: Greater Philadelphia, Greater Northeast, Philadelphia African-American, Philadelphia Asian-American, and Philadelphia Hispanic Chambers of Commerce; (f) Five members appointed by the Mayor, one of whom shall be an attorney with zoning experience, one of whom shall be a leader in a registered building trade association, one of whom shall be an urban planner, one of whom shall be an architect and one of whom shall be a real estate developer; (g) Five members appointed by the Council President, one of whom shall be an attorney with zoning experience, one of whom shall be a leader in a registered building trade association, one of whom shall be an urban planner, one of whom shall be an architect and one of whom shall be a real estate developer; (h) One member appointed by each individual district council person from among recognized leaders in the community; (i) All appointments to the Commission shall be made within sixty days after the Commission is first created. (j) Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled within 30 days by the appointing authority who originally appointed the member whose seat has become vacant. Notes 111 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 15, 2007, and certified on June 4, 2007. See Bill No. 060699 (approved February 21, 2007); Resolution No. 060716-AA (adopted February 8, 2007). Enrolled resolution numbered this as Section 3-807; renumbered by Code editor.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-809 Jobs Commission.

§ 3-809. Jobs Commission. (a) Composition. The Jobs Commission shall be composed of seventeen members, nine of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor and eight of whom shall be appointed by the Council President, provided that Council may from time to time provide by ordinance for a different composition or method of appointment. (b) Initial appointments. All appointments to the Commission shall be made within thirty days after the Commission is first created. (c) Vacancies. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled within thirty days by the appointing authority who originally appointed the member whose seat has become vacant. (d) Compensation. Members of the Commission shall not be compensated. Notes 112 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 17, 2011, and certified on June 6, 2011. See Bill No. 110060 (approved March 23, 2011); Resolution No. 110063 (adopted March 10, 2011).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-810 Commission for Women.

§ 3-810. Commission for Women. (a) Composition. The Commission for Women shall be composed of twenty-seven (27) members. The Mayor shall appoint ten (10) members, and each member of Council shall appoint one (1) member, provided that Council may from time to time provide, by ordinance, for a different composition or method of appointment. The members of the Commission shall be representative of the diverse composition of the City, shall have an understanding of or experience with women's issues and shall be residents of the City. (b) Appointments and Terms of Service. Initial Appointments to the Commission shall be made within ninety (90) days after the organization of Council on the first Monday of January, 2016, and Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. Members shall serve until their successors have been appointed. (c) Vacancies. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled within thirty (30) days by the appointing authority who originally appointed the member whose seat has become vacant. (d) Compensation. Members of the Commission shall not be compensated. (e) To assist in the initial organization of the Commission, the Mayor may appoint an interim executive director at any time after January 5, 2016, who shall serve until an executive director is appointed by the Commission. The Mayor shall determine the compensation of the interim executive director. Notes 113 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 19, 2015, and certified on June 8, 2015. See Bill No. 140230 (approved March 10, 2015); Resolution No. 140244 (adopted February 26, 2015).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-811 Commission on Universal Pre-Kindergarten.

§ 3-811. Commission on Universal Pre-Kindergarten. (a) The Commission on Universal Pre-Kindergarten shall be composed of seventeen members, selected as follows: (1) Five members appointed by the Mayor from constituencies that may include childcare providers, the business community, educators, education advocates, regional or national pre-kindergarten experts, and parents; (2) Five members appointed by City Council from constituencies that may include childcare providers, the business community, educators, education advocates, regional or national pre-kindergarten experts, and parents; (3) Two members appointed by City Council from among its members; (4) Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia, or the Superintendent's designee; (5) Director of Finance, or the Director's designee; (6) Director of Commerce, or the Director's designee; (7) The Welfare Commissioner, commonly known as Commissioner of Human Services, or the Commissioner's designee; and (8) Deputy Secretary, Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, or the Deputy Secretary's designee. (b) All initial appointments to the Commission shall be made within twenty (20) days after the Commission is first created. (c) Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled within thirty (30) days by the appointing authority who originally appointed the member whose seat has become vacant. Notes 114 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 19, 2015, and certified on June 8, 2015. See Bill No. 150005 (approved March 10, 2015); Resolution No. 150017 (adopted February 26, 2015). Enrolled resolution numbered this as Section 3-810; renumbered by Code editor. Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on May 17, 2022, and certified on June 6, 2022. See Bill No. 220001 (approved February 25, 2022); Resolution No. 220009 (adopted February 24, 2022).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-812 Commission on African-American Males.

§ 3-812. Commission on African-American Males. (a) The Commission on African-American Males shall be composed of thirty members, selected as follows: (1) Thirty members appointed by the Mayor from constituencies that may include, but need not be limited to, representatives of government, business, education, labor, health, and service organizations. (2) At least three members shall be between the ages of 18 and 35 years old. (3) The Chair or Co-Chairs of the Commission shall be designated by the Mayor. (b) All initial appointments to the Commission shall be made within two months after the Commission is first created. (c) Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled within thirty (30) days. Notes 115 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on April 26, 2016, and certified on May 17, 2016. See Bill No. 150573-A (approved December 15, 2015); Resolution No. 150594 (adopted December 3, 2015).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-813 Citizens Police Oversight Commission.

§ 3-813. Citizens Police Oversight Commission. The Citizens Police Oversight Commission shall be constituted in accordance with ordinances enacted by Council pursuant to Section 4-2501. Notes 116 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on November 3, 2020, and certified on November 23, 2020. See Bill No. 200367 (approved July 1, 2020); Resolution No. 200377 (adopted June 25, 2020).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-814 Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board.

§ 3-814. Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board. (a) The Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board shall be composed of nine members, four of whom shall be appointed by the mayor, four shall be appointed by the President of City Council, and one shall be appointed by the Philadelphia City Controller. (b) Appointments shall be made within 60 days of the creation of the Board. (c) A vacancy on the Board for a term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment. (d) Members may serve no more than two four-year terms or 10 years of total service. (e) Members may be removed by either their appointing authority or by a vote of two-thirds of the remaining members, provided that Council consent to such member vote. (f) Members shall be residents of the City of Philadelphia and may not be employed by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, Philadelphia Sheriff's Office or Philadelphia Police Department or their equivalent agencies in other jurisdictions during or prior to appointment. At least one member shall have experience as an incarcerated person, preferably in the Philadelphia prisons. Council may, by ordinance, establish additional eligibility criteria for Board members. (g) Members shall receive compensation in such amount as ordained by Council. _______________ Notes 116.1 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 20, 2025, and certified on June 9, 2025. See Bill No. 240817 (approved February 12, 2025); Resolution No. 240834-A (adopted December 19, 2024) and Resolution No. 250018 (adopted January 30, 2025). See Charter subsection A-200(29) for effective date.

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-264191Fetched: 10/27/2026