Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Village of Pelham.

The Village of Pelham is proud to have many volunteer advisory boards: Architectural Review Board, Planning Board, Sustainability Advisory Board, Climate Smart Communities Task Force, Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee, and the newly-established Council on the Arts. Among these boards are over 40 residents volunteering to advise elected officials on matters that we all care about. We cherish participatory democracy and believe strongly that having the opportunity to serve in local government is one of the things that makes life in a small community so wonderful.

Ensuring the inclusion of a diverse cross-section of local residents can be difficult, though. Since seats become open at unpredictable times throughout the year, the Village Board of Trustees is often left scrambling to find replacements, leaving us little opportunity to broadly publicize openings. At this moment, in fact, we have two seats unexpectedly opening up on the Zoning Board of Appeals, and almost every board is likely to have openings in the next few months. This dilemma was highlighted by the Steering Committee on Policing and Inclusion as one that could prevent the Village from achieving its goal of being truly inclusive. We’ve decided to change our approach.

Going forward, we’ll be issuing calls for volunteers on a semi-annual basis – before there are openings on our volunteer boards – in order to ensure that all interested residents can submit their names for participation. BIPOC Pelhamites are strongly encouraged to submit their information. Generally, we’re looking for residents with a range of professional and personal backgrounds, different lived experiences, a commitment to volunteerism, and a wide array of necessary skills to make the Village a better place for everyone. Our hope is that this change will allow us to better attract interested residents and fill seats quickly when something becomes available.

A description of each volunteer board is below. If you’re interested, please submit your information on the Village’s website here. If you’re interested in more than one board, you’ll be able to indicate that when applying.

Thanks in advance for helping us make our community the best it can be!

VoP BOARDS & COMMITTEES

Architectural Review Board (ARB): The ARB advises village officials and agencies in administering the Village Code. They also participate in site plan approval and procedures, and they report on architectural questions upon the Village Board of Trustees’ request or its designees.

Climate Smart Communities Task Force: In February 2019, the Village Board of Trustees approved a resolution to adopt the New York State Climate Smart Community Pledge. The CSC Task Force helps the Village achieve Climate Smart Community Certification. Interested members will work to help the Village reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate in conjunction with (and independently of) the Sustainability Advisory Board.

Council on the Arts: The Village of Pelham Council on the Arts is focused on promoting the public arts and humanities in our community, by creating and administering public artwork programs in public spaces and on the Village’s television channel. Members should have experience and interest in the arts of architecture, landscape architecture, sculpture, painting, performance arts, filmmaking, education, literature, history, or other similar arts and works of art. They will play an active role in the administration and development of the Arts Council and serve as stewards of the community’s public spaces.

Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee: The Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee coordinates with the Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments through a trustee liaison and other relevant organizations both inside and outside the Village of Pelham. The committee’s mission is to:

• Enhance the Village’s walkability to support a more vibrant and prosperous community;
• Bring together Village government and the community to engage in the three E’s of traffic safety – Engineering, Education, and Enforcement;
• Advance safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all who use Village of Pelham’s streets and sidewalks, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities.

Planning Board: The function of the Planning Board is to advise the Mayor and the Board of Trustees in matters related to land use, development, long-term planning and matters related to site plans, subdivisions, special use permits, zoning amendments, or other development approvals.

Sustainability Advisory Board: The purpose of the Sustainability Advisory Board is to prioritize goals, develop programs, and recommend policy, legislation, and code amendments that encourage and contribute to the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the Village. Areas of advisement include, but are not limited to, energy conservation and alternative fuel use, waste reduction and recycling, preservation and development of open space, maintenance of the Village’s tree canopy, alternative modes of transportation (including walking and cycling), stormwater quality improvement, water conservation, green building design, climate change mitigation and community resilience to natural disasters.
Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA): The ZBA serves as an administrative and quasi-judicial body that makes determinations on how to interpret zoning ordinances that may cause unnecessary hardship on property owners. The ZBA must follow specific statutory requirements contained in the Village Code and is only authorized to hear appeals related to a decision made by the Building Department who issues permits and enforces zoning.