Charlottesville seeks applications for Boards and Commissions

You may be enjoying the summer, but have you thought about public service in the fall? The City of Charlottesville is seeking applications for people to volunteer to serve on one of many advisory bodies. 

Vacancies range from the Board of Architectural Review to the Youth Council. Applications are being taken through July 31 and Council will make the next set of appointments at its meeting on August 19. You can apply for any of these positions here.

• A position for a licensed architect is open on the Board of Architectural Review
• There’s one full-time position on the Board of Zoning Appeals, a position that requires being sworn in by the Charlottesville Circuit Court. 
• There are five vacancies of the Community Development Block Grant Task Force, including three to represent the “low income neighborhoods” of 10th and Page, Belmont, and Ridge Street. An at-large representative and a public service program representative are also desired. 
• The Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund Committee has two openings for representatives who are beneficiaries of subsidized housing. 
• There is one opening on the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners for an at-large representative. This one may require an interview with City Council. (learn more)
• The city also needs a representative on the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport Commission.
• The city is looking for a parent to serve on the Community Policy and Management Team. This is a joint body with Albemarle County that discusses services related to the Comprehensive Services Act. 
• The Housing Advisory Committee is seeking two people who live in subsidized housing to serve alongside three housing non-profit directors, three real-estate professionals, and two at-large members. 
• There is one vacancy on the Human Rights Commission. 
• There is one vacancy on the Jaunt Board of Directors. 
• There is one representative needed for the Jefferson Area Community Criminal Justice Board. 
• What about the library? The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Board needs a city resident. 
• There are four positions on the local Board of Building Code Appeals. 
• There are three vacancies on the Minority Business Commission. There’s also a vacancy reserved for the city’s minority business procurement coordinator.
• There are three vacancies on the Charlottesville Planning Commission, a body that is still finding its new role after adoption of the new Development Code. Earlier this year, Commissioner Karim Habbab resigned in protest and the terms of Betsy Roettger and Lyle Solla-Yates are up at the end of August. 
• There are several vacancies on the Police Civilian Oversight Board and the deadline for this one is actually July 26, 2024. There are three community representatives sought as well as one at-large representative and a social justice representative. 
• There is one opening on the Retirement Commission for a community member. 
• Charlottesville’s Sister Cities Commission seeks a community representative and a youth representative. 
• There are three positions on the Social Services Advisory Board that are waiting to be filled. 
• The Towing Advisory Board requires a community member and a representative of the towing industry, as well as an alternate community member. 
• The Vendor Appeals Board seeks three members. The purpose is “to provide an impartial avenue of appeal to vendors to protest a decision to award or an award, refusals to pre-qualify or to allow withdrawal of bids, debarments and determinations of no responsibility and decisions on disputes arising during the performance of a contract.” Now you know. 
• There are multiple positions on the Youth Council and take a look at the link to see what grade levels are required. 

The hope of Charlottesville Community Engagement is to get more people involved with local democratic institutions. I’m pleased that in the time of this newsletter to date, there is at least one person who now serves on one of these bodies thanks to these notes. 

Maybe it’s your turn? 

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the July 17, 2024 edition of the newsletter. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.