Position Description for Member of Board of Public Works Commissioners
The board of public works is created by Burlington City Charter section 120. Commissioners:
- Have general control, management and supervision of all municipal parking lots, garages, and parking meters including making reasonable terms, conditions, rates and charges;
- Can regulate the parking, operation and speed of vehicles and pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the city’s public roads and parking areas, including signage and prescribing penalties;
- Can recommend the acquisition or construction of municipal parking lots or garages to the council, issue waterworks bonds (if the voters by more than 50% have approved the project) and approve with the council the issuance of waterworks refunding bonds;
- Advise the department and council on the condition of the streets, sewer/stormwater and water systems and participate as requested in emergency management activities assigned by the Emergency Management Director & Mayor;
- Act as a board of appeals for appeals of building, electrical, and plumbing inspectors orders, and code enforcement vacant building and minimum housing fire safety orders;
- Consider energy conservation ordinance variance requests;
- May hear public works department employee grievances to the extent provided in the City’s personnel policies.
Members of this board must meet the following criteria:
- Be a legal voter of the City of Burlington pursuant to § 120 of the Charter;
- No more than two-thirds of the members may be from the same political party.
Members of this board will be appointed for:
- a 3 year term, starting on the first of July following his or her appointment
Historically, this board regularly meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
In addition, members of this board will be expected to:
- Attend all scheduled meetings, or if a meeting must be missed, let the chairperson know ahead of the meeting if they will not be able to attend;
- Review any materials provided to the board ahead of time;
- Notify the chairperson and/or the city staff person assigned to the board of any accommodation for a disability that may be required in order for the person to serve;
- Act from a spirit of cooperation and with respect towards other board members, staff members, and members of the public appearing before the board;
- Avoid actual or apparent conflicts of interest or bias;
- When deciding a controversy or responding to a request, conduct themselves in a fair and impartial manner;
- Comply with all aspects of the Vermont Open Meeting and Access to Public Records laws;
- Consider fairly the interests of all individuals and organizations whose interests may be affected by their actions as a city official.
