DEPARTMENTAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter art. III, ch. 9

in effect

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-900 Board of Trade and Conventions.

§ 3-900. Board of Trade and Conventions. The Board of Trade and Conventions shall be composed of seven appointed members and the Director of Commerce, the Superintendent of Schools of the School District of Philadelphia, and the Secretary of Commerce and the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, December 22, 1932. Purposes: City and State Department of Commerce heads have been included on the Board of Trade and Conventions because the work of the Board will be vitally concerned with commerce. The Board will also have important functions to perform in the realm of public instruction and school representatives are included for this purpose.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-901 Board of Health.

§ 3-901. Board of Health. The Board of Health shall be composed of the Health Commissioner, who shall be president thereof, and seven appointed members. Three members shall be physicians, one of them having a degree of Doctor or Master of Public Health and one member shall be a dentist having a degree of Doctor or Master of Public Health. ANNOTATION Sources: Act of June 25, 1919, P.L. 581, Article VII, Section 4. Purposes: The development in recent years of a field of study in public health and the academic degrees awarded to those pursuing such study prompted the requirement that at least one of the physician members of the Board and the dentist member have such degrees. A dentist has been included on the Board because of the importance to public health of adequate dental facilities and care. Three members are required to be physicians because public health involves the constant application of learning in the medical sciences. Four members of the Board may be lay persons and persons whose skills and training are important in the public health field, such as sanitary engineers, nurses, and osteopaths. The Health Commissioner is made the Chairman of the Board because the Board is attached to the Department of Public Health and the regulations promulgated by the Board will be the regulations of the Department.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-902 Air Pollution Control Board.

§ 3-902. Air Pollution Control Board. The Air Pollution Control Board shall be composed of seven appointed members and the Health Commissioner. Of the appointed members, one shall be an experienced business executive, and two shall be resident householders not connected with the activities hereafter enumerated. The other four shall include one from each of the following fields of activity where the member shall have had at least five years' active experience: the operation of plants containing high pressure boilers; the management or operation of the business of mining or manufacturing of solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, involving the theory and practice of fuel technology; the management or operation of transportation facilities; and the practice of designing or installing power and industrial equipment. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, June 25, 1948. Purposes: The composition of the Air Pollution Control Board is such as to assure members competent to deal with the subject of air pollution control. The Health Commissioner is a member because the Board is attached to the Department of Health. Notes 117 | 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 § 3-903 Boards of Trustees of City Institutions.

§ 3-903. Boards of Trustees of City Institutions. The board of trustees of each of the City institutions listed in this section shall be composed of six members appointed on a non-political basis, and the head of the Department with which it is connected. This section shall apply to: 118 Board of Trustees of Philadelphia General Hospital Board of Trustees of Philadelphia Hospital for Contagious Diseases Board of Trustees of Home for the Indigent Boards of Trustees of any additional institutions hereafter established, acquired or operated by the City. Of the members first appointed to any such board, three shall be appointed for terms of two years and three for terms of four years. Thereafter all appointments shall be for terms of four years. ANNOTATION Sources: The Administrative Code of 1929, Act of April 9, 1929, P.L. 177, Section 401 as amended. Purposes: 1. No particular qualifications are required of appointees to boards of trustees of City institutions but all appointments must be made on a non-political basis. It is anticipated that citizens with a demonstrated interest in institutional welfare and administration will be chosen and that they will be competent to fulfill their trust. 2. This section is drawn to cover not only the institutions named, but any new institutions which may be hereafter operated by the City. 3. Staggered terms have been provided because sound institutional management should be independent of changes in political administrations. Notes 118 | Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 4, 2014, and certified on November 24, 2014. See Bill No. 140015 (approved May 19, 2014); Resolution No. 140035 (adopted May 8, 2014).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-904 Board of Surveyors.

§ 3-904. Board of Surveyors. The Board of Surveyors shall be composed of a Chief Engineer and Surveyor, who shall be the president thereof, an Assistant Chief Engineer and Surveyor, and the Surveyors and Regulators of the several survey districts of the City, all of them to be appointed by the Commissioner of Streets. The Chief Engineer and Surveyor shall be at the time of his appointment a civil engineer of at least five years' experience, and the Assistant Chief Engineer and Surveyor and the district Surveyors and Regulators each shall have had at the time of their appointment at least five years' experience in surveying and regulating. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia, March 17, 1884 and December 31, 1919. Purposes: The Board of Surveyors is continued substantially as at present, except that the various members are to appointed by the Commissioner of Streets with whose Department the Board is connected. Notes 119 | 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 § 3-905 Commission on Parks and Recreation.

§ 3-905. Commission on Parks and Recreation. (a) Composition. The Commission on Parks and Recreation shall consist of fifteen members, nine of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor from a list of nominations submitted to the Mayor by resolution of the Council; and six of whom shall serve ex officio, as follows: the President of City Council and the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission, or their designees, and the Water Commissioner, the Street Commissioner, the Public Property Commissioner and the Parks and Recreation Commissioner. The Mayor shall designate one member who does not serve ex officio to serve as chair. (b) Appointment process. At the commencement of every Mayoral term and by no later than February 1 of such year, the Council President shall, by public notice, solicit applicants to serve on the Commission. The application period shall be open for no less than thirty days, after which the Council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed nominations. No later than ninety days after the close of applications, the Council, by resolution, shall forward to the Mayor no fewer than 18 and no more than 25 nominations. Whenever a vacancy shall occur on the Commission, the Mayor may fill the vacancy from any nominations previously submitted by the Council during such Mayoral term, provided that, for any vacancy occurring more than one year after the commencement of a term, the Mayor may ask for additional nominations, and Council, pursuant to the foregoing process, shall forward to the Mayor nominations numbering no less than two and no more than three times the number of vacancies. (c) Qualifications. The members shall have demonstrated experience or skills relevant to the powers and duties of the Commission including, but not limited to: sports, recreation and athletic programming; natural lands management, watershed management, and environmental protection; tourism, marketing and public relations; business and finance; neighborhood revitalization; community leadership; historical and architectural preservation; landscaping and horticulture; and fundraising. The Commission shall also be reflective of the geographic, racial, ethnic, and gender diversity within the City. ANNOTATION Law Department Note (2009): Department of Recreation and Fairmount Park Commission were reconstituted, and the Board of Trustees of Camp Happy was abolished, by amendment approved November 4, 2008. See Footnote to this section. Sources: Act of March 26, 1867, P.L. 547, as amended. Purposes: The membership of the Fairmount Park Commission is continued as at present except that the Recreation Commissioner is added as a member ex officio because the Commission is connected with his Department and is concerned with recreational facilities and activities. Notes 120 | Caption and section 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 § 3-906 Board of Trustees of American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial.

§ 3-906. Board of Trustees of American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial. The Board of Trustees of the American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial shall be composed of seven appointed members and the Parks and Recreation Commissioner. 121 ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, May 26, 1941. Purposes: The Recreation Commissioner is made a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial because the Board is connected with his Department. Notes 121 | 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 § 3-907 Board of Trustees of Atwater Kent Museum.

§ 3-907. Board of Trustees of Atwater Kent Museum. The Board of Trustees of the Atwater Kent Museum shall be constituted and its members shall be appointed in accordance with the agreement under which the City accepted the Museum by the ordinance of July 28, 1938. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, July 28, 1938. Purposes: The Board of Trustees of the Atwater Kent Museum is continued as at present so as not to vary the terms of the agreement under which the City accepted the Museum for under the terms of the agreement, any variation might result in the loss by the City of the Museum.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-908 City Planning Commission.

§ 3-908. City Planning Commission. The City Planning Commission shall be composed of seven appointed members and the Managing Director, the Director of Finance, the Director of Commerce and the Director of Planning and Development. None of the appointed members shall hold another public office or position of profit. Of the appointed members, one shall be an architect, one shall be an urban planner, one shall be a traffic engineer, one shall be an attorney experienced in land use issues, two shall be representatives of Philadelphia community groups that participate in land use issues, and one other shall meet any one of the above qualifications. ANNOTATION Law Department Note (2009): Department of Recreation and Fairmount Park Commission were reconstituted, and the Board of Trustees of Camp Happy was abolished, by amendment approved November 4, 2008. See Footnote to this section. Sources: The Administrative Code of 1929. Act of April 9, 1929, P.L. 177, Section 401, as amended. Purposes: The Recreation Commissioner is made a member of the Board of Trustees of Camp Happy because it is connected with his Department. Law Department Note (2017): The City Planning Commission was renumbered from Charter Section 3-800 by amendment approved November 3, 2015. See Footnote to this section. The following two paragraphs were originally included as an annotation under former Charter Section 3-800. Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, December 21, 1942. Purposes: The composition of the City Planning Commission includes the Managing Director because he is in charge of the service departments of the City concerned with City capital improvements; the Director of Finance because the City Planning Commission is responsible for preparing initially the capital program and capital budget; and the City Representative because, as the City's promotional officer and Director of Commerce, he is concerned with the growth and development of the City. Five private citizens are included to assure adequate civic representation through persons who are neither preoccupied nor connected with City functions as public officials. Notes 122 | Section 3-908, Board of Trustees of Camp Happy, deleted 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). Section 3-908, City Planning Commission, renumbered from former Section 3-800 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.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-909 Gas Commission.

§ 3-909. Gas Commission. The Gas Commission shall be constituted and appointed in accordance with the provisions of such contract as may from time to time be in effect between the City and the operator of the City gas works, or, in the absence of a contract, in such manner as may be provided by ordinance. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, December 30, 1937. Purposes: The composition of the Gas Commission is not specified because it is determined by the provisions of the contract in force from time to time between the City and the operators of the City Gas Works. Should there not be such an agreement in force at any time, Council is empowered to determine the composition of the Commission.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-910 Art Commission.

§ 3-910. Art Commission. The Art Commission shall be composed of eight appointed members and the Commissioner of Public Property. Of the appointed members, one each shall be a painter, a sculptor, an architect, a landscape architect, a member of the Commission on Parks and Recreation, and an experienced business executive, and two shall be members of a faculty or governing body of a school of art or architecture. In all matters within the jurisdiction of the Commission pertaining to work under the special charge of any department of the City, the head of such department shall also for the time being act as a member but shall have no vote. ANNOTATION Sources: Act of June 25, 1919, P.L. 581, Article II, Section 11. Purposes: The Art Commission, formerly the Art Jury, is continued substantially as heretofore, with the addition of a landscape architect. The Commissioner of Public Property is made a member because the Commission is connected with his Department. Since the Commission from time to time passes on projects within the realm of other departments, the department head concerned is made a member at the time his project is being considered. Notes 123 | 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 § 3-911 Zoning Board of Adjustment.

§ 3-911. Zoning Board of Adjustment. The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be composed of seven members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of City Council. All members shall have a demonstrated sensitivity to community concerns regarding development and the protection of the character of Philadelphia's neighborhoods. The members shall include an urban planner, an architect, an attorney with zoning experience, a person with experience in the construction industry, and at least two recognized leaders from community organizations. The Director of Planning and Development shall be an alternate member who may replace any absent or disqualified appointed member. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, August 10, 1933. Purposes: The Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections has been added to the Zoning Board because the Board is attached to his Department. Notes 124 | Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on May 18, 2010, and certified on June 7, 2010. See Bill No. 090591 (approved March 5, 2010); Resolution No. 090626 (adopted February 25, 2010). 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. Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on May 17, 2022, and certified on June 6, 2022. See Bill No. 210669 (became law January 20, 2022); Resolution No. 210692 (adopted December 16, 2021). See Charter subsection A-200(22) for effective date.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-912 Board of Building Standards.

§ 3-912. Board of Building Standards. The Board of Building Standards shall be composed of four appointed members and the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections. The appointed members shall be individuals of recognized standing and experience in design and construction, and shall include at least one architect and one professional engineer, each registered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, May 9, 1949. Purposes: Persons experienced in the design and construction of buildings are required to be members of the Board of Building Standards. The Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections is made a member because the Board is connected with his Department. Notes 125 | 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 § 3-913 Board of License and Inspection Review.

§ 3-913. Board of License and Inspection Review. The Board of License and Inspection Review shall be composed of not less than three members, and not more than nine. The Board Chair may designate any three or more members of the Board to hear and decide any case. ANNOTATION Sources: No specific source. Purposes: The number of members constituting the Board of License and Inspection Review is left flexible so that the membership may be increased as the volume of the Board's cases grows. Notes 126 | Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on May 18, 2021, and certified on June 15, 2021. See Bill No. 210073 (approved March 10, 2021); Resolution No. 210085 (adopted March 4, 2021).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-914 Tax Review Board.

§ 3-914. Tax Review Board. Until the Council shall by ordinance otherwise provide, the Tax Review Board shall consist of the Director of Finance, the City Solicitor and the City Treasurer. If and when the Council shall so ordain, the Board shall consist of not more than five members who shall receive such compensation as the ordinance shall fix. One member shall be an accountant and one a lawyer. ANNOTATION Sources: No specific source. Purposes: The Tax Review Board will consist originally of the Director of Finance, the City Solicitor and the City Treasurer because it is anticipated that the Board will not have a great volume of cases to review until Council defines the scope of matters that may be appealed to it. When its volume of business increases, the Board will consist of up to five members as the Council shall ordain. At that time an accountant and a lawyer will be required to be members of the Board because the Board will be concerned with review of tax cases and any one of the three members originally constituting the Board may be replaced.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-915 Sinking Fund Commission.

§ 3-915. Sinking Fund Commission. The Sinking Fund Commission shall consist of the Director of Finance, the City Controller and an experienced banker or investment banker. ANNOTATION Sources: Ordinances of the City of Philadelphia, June 19, 1857; and May 9, 1857; Act of June 25, 1919, P.L. 581, Article XIV, Section 1. Purposes: The Director of Finance, the City Controller and an experienced banker or investment banker constitute the Sinking Fund Commission because its functions include the investment of moneys and the redemption or purchases of City Bonds. Section 6-208.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-916 Reserved.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-917 Additional Advisory Boards.

§ 3-917. Additional Advisory Boards. The Mayor may upon the request of the head of any department or of the Mayor's own volition appoint a board of seven citizens to act in an advisory capacity to such department regarding the department's work or any specified phase of it. ANNOTATION Sources: No specific source. Purposes: Except for the Recreation Coordination Board, no advisory boards are created by the Charter. However, since it may be advisable in time to have such advisory boards, provision is made for their appointment. Notes 129 | 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 § 3-918 Historical Commission.

§ 3-918. Historical Commission. The Historical Commission shall be composed of seven appointed members, and the Council President or the President's designee, the Director of Commerce, the Commissioner of Public Property, the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections, the Chair of the City Planning Commission or the Chair's designee, and the Director of Planning and Development. Each appointed member shall be learned in the historic traditions of the City and interested in the preservation of the historic character of the City and the appointed members shall include one of each of the following: an architect experienced in the field of historic preservation; a historian; an architectural historian; a real estate developer; a representative of a community development corporation; and a representative of a community organization. Notes 130 | Added 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. 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 § 3-919 Housing Advisory Board.

§ 3-919. Housing Advisory Board. The Housing Advisory Board shall be composed of five appointed members and the designees of the following: the Council President, the Chair of the Council Committee with responsibility for housing and related matters, the Director of Commerce, the Director of Planning and Development, the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, and the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation. The appointed members shall include one representative from each of the following: the not-for-profit housing development sector, the for-profit housing development sector, the real estate brokerage sector, the mortgage lending sector, and a city- wide affordable housing advocacy organization. Notes 131 | Added 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.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-920 Philadelphia Community Reinvestment Commission.

§ 3-920. Philadelphia Community Reinvestment Commission. (a) Composition. The Philadelphia Community Reinvestment Commission shall be composed of twenty-one (21) members, selected as follows, provided that Council may from time to time provide by ordinance for a different composition or method of appointment: (1) Twelve (12) members appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of the Council. The appointed members shall include at least one representative from each of the following seven categories: Depositories authorized to hold City moneys; community development financial institutions located in Philadelphia; private foundations; educational and/or medical institutions; City-wide community development and/or anti-poverty organizations; City-wide business associations; and labor organizations. (2) Three members appointed by the Council from among its members or their designees; (3) The President of Council or the President's designee; and 133 (4) The Director of Finance, the Director of Commerce, the Director of Planning and Development, the City Treasurer, and an administrative officer, designated by the Mayor, who is charged with oversight of anti- poverty and community development issues, or their designees. (b) Terms of Service and Vacancies. Appointed members on the Commission shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. Vacancies among the appointed positions shall be filled by the appointing authority who originally appointed the member whose seat has become vacant. (c) Compensation. Members of the Commission shall not be compensated for their service. Notes 132 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 16, 2017, and certified on June 6, 2017. See Bill No. 160895-A (approved March 13, 2017); Resolution No. 170190 (adopted March 9, 2017). See Charter subsection A-200(15) for effective date. 133 | 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 § 3-921 Board of Labor Standards.

§ 3-921. Board of Labor Standards. The Board of Labor Standards shall be composed of seven appointed members. Two members shall be from among representatives of labor organizations, one of which shall be from the building and construction field and one of which shall be from the service or hospitality fields or the public sector; two members from among employers, one of which shall be from the building and construction field and one of which shall be from the service or hospitality fields or the public sector; two members of the public; and one City employee who shall be the Chair. Members shall represent the diversity of the City and shall possess direct experience in the areas to be considered by the Board, and shall include at least one member knowledgeable about issues concerning workers who are not represented by labor organizations. The Mayor may appoint for each member an alternate, subject to the same qualifications of such member, who may act in place and stead of the member in the member's absence or unavailability for any reason. _______________ Notes 134 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on June 2, 2020, and certified on June 22, 2020. See Bill No. 200008 (approved February 26, 2020); Resolution No. 200042-A (adopted February 13, 2020). See Charter subsection A-200(18) 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/0-0-0-264294Fetched: 10/27/2026