Empty Seats on Boards and Commissions Need Filling

Mayor Scott Jackson is again putting out the call to Hamden residents interested in volunteering to serve on one of the town’s boards and commissions.

Jackson has been vocal in his desire to increase citizen input to town government through participation in its more than 33 boards and commissions. 

Information on each commission can be found on the town’s web site at www.hamden.com under Government, and includes mission statements, meeting schedules, etc. 

Availability on boards and commissions occurs when terms expire or volunteers resign. The lengths of terms vary from commission to commission, but most are three years.  Town ordinances require that boards and commissions include representatives of more than one political party. 

The majority of the boards and commissions meet one evening each month, but some do meet during business hours. Most meet at the Government Center or in Thornton Wilder Auditorium at the Miller Memorial Library Complex.   

The following boards and commissions currently have vacencies:  

• Currently there is a vacancy on the Civil Service Commission for a person who is not a registered Democrat.  The Commission meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Town Attorney’s Conference Room. 
• There is a vacancy on the Energy Use & Climate Change Commission for a person who is not a registered Democrat.  Its meetings are held at the Hamden Government Center at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. 
• The Fair Rent Commission meets as needed, and has a vacancy for a citizen representative (not a landlord or tenant) who is not a Democrat.  
• The Human Services Commission is in need of two members who are not registered Democrats. The commission meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Government Center. 
• The Natural Resources and Open Space Commission is in need of a new member that is not a registered Democrat.  The NROS Commission meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Government Center. 
• Hamden has a vacancy on its Personnel Appeals Board, which does not meet regularly, but exists in case the need arises. 
• There is a vacancy on the Planning & Zoning Commission which meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. 
• An opening currently exists on the Retirement Board, which meets at 3 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at the Government Center. 
• The Town Center Park Commission meets at the Government Center on the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. and is in need of two new members. 
• The Zoning Board of Appeals needs one alternate member that is not a registered Democrat.  That Commission meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Government Center.

Hamden is a member of Connecticut’s Regional Mental Health Board Catchment Area Council 7 and is in need of a representative to that Board.  This Board is responsible for assessing the mental health needs of the community, evaluating available and proposed mental health services and making recommendations regarding the distribution of state funds to the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.  Other Board activities include public education, advocacy, monitoring legislative and budget decisions and planning.  Applicants to this Board should have a desire to help others in the community and do not necessarily need to have experience in the mental health field.  Meetings are held one Wednesday afternoon each month in Orange. 

For schedules and responsibilities regarding all boards and commissions, contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 203-287-7112. Anyone interested in becoming involved with one of the numerous boards and commissions to send a letter of interest and a resume to Town Clerk Vera Morrison, 2750 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, CT 06518.