Phoenixville Borough appoints residents to seven citizen boards. They advise Borough Council on planning, zoning, historic preservation, recreation, trees, civil service and human relations.
It's about the most direct say you can have in how the town runs, and mostly the seats go to whoever asks.
The seven boards
| Board | Term |
|---|---|
| Planning Commission | 4 years |
| Zoning Hearing Board | 5 years |
| Historical & Architectural Review Board | 4 years |
| Recreation Board | 4 years |
| Tree Advisory Commission | 5 years |
| Civil Service Commission | 6 years |
| Human Relations Commission | 3 years |
Term lengths come from the borough's Boards, Committees & Commissions page, which also lists which seats are open and when each expires. Openings change, so check that page or the borough's applications and vacancies page rather than trusting a number written down somewhere else.
The steps
- Download the application. There's one Boards and Commission Application (PDF) for every board. Tick the board you want. You can tick more than one.
- Attach your resume. The form is explicit about it: "A copy of your resume must be included with this application." This catches people out.
- Deliver it. Mail, fax or drop off to the Borough Manager, 351 Bridge Street, 2nd Floor, Phoenixville, PA 19460. Phone 610-933-8801, fax 610-983-0621.
- Interview with Council. Borough Council asks applicants for a short interview. Staff will tell you which meeting to come to.
- Wait for the appointment. Members are appointed or reappointed annually by Borough Council for specific terms.
What to expect
There's no application deadline. Seats come open when a term expires or someone steps down, and Council appoints as that happens. So there's no point waiting for a good moment. Get the form in and it sits on file until something opens up.
You don't need professional credentials for most of these. The Planning Commission is better for having someone on it who has read a zoning ordinance, and Civil Service for someone comfortable with hiring rules, but mostly what it takes is being a resident who'll turn up to meetings.
Meetings are public. If you're not sure whether a board suits you, go and watch one before you apply.