Boards and Commissions

The Recreation Board consists of 7-9 members appointed by borough council. Members plan and execute many events in the borough including Cookies with Santa, the Story Stroll, the annual Easter Egg Hunt, and the Movie in the Park series. The Recreation Board also helps with borough-sponsored events such as the Dormont Dash, and organizes the Kid Zone during the Dormont Street and Music Fest, and advises Council on future recreation events.

The Recreation Board meets once per month on the 2nd Monday of the month from 7 to 8 pm. Members are expected to volunteer and help work the various events, as well as spend some time outside of formal meetings to plan the details of these events. For bigger events, such as Kid Zone at the Dormont Street and Music Fest, a 4-8 hour commitment is requested. For Movies in the Park, members help with set-up and break-down which requires a more minimal time commitment. 

The Safe Mobility Commission aids Council in determining which areas within the borough are most in need of mobility changes and/or improvements, helps guide the direction of urban planning to focus on making roadways and sidewalks safer for all ages and abilities, utilizing any and all modes of travel, is dedicated to improving equitable mobility within the borough, promotes pedestrian and micro-mobility centric practices in urban planning projects, and establishes a method of obtaining information from residents about mobility concerns.

The Human Relations Commission was created to to assure equal opportunities to all individuals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status, ancestry, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, marital status, familial status, genetic information, handicap or disability, or use of an assistance to enjoy the full benefits of being a resident of the borough. (No power or duty granted hereunder to the Dormont Human Relations Commission is intended to exceed, nor shall it be construed as exceeding, those powers and duties granted to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission or the Allegheny County Human Relations Commisssion.)

The Planning Commission consists of seven members appointed by Borough Council. The Commission recommends changes to the Borough’s master plan, makes recommendations on rezoning, and reviews development and site plans. One example of work completed by this group is listening to and reviewing proposals for the zoning rewrite project. For this project, the Planning Commission made a recommendation for which company to select to help complete the first zoning rewrite project which has not been updated in over 20 years. In the future, the Planning Commission will help review any strategic or master plan in the borough.

The Shade Tree Commission shall have exclusive custody and control of the shade trees on the streets and highways of the borough, as well as trees in areas zoned as parks. The Commission has the power to make and enforce regulations for the care and protection of the shade trees of the borough, upon approval by approval by Council through an ordinance.

Any borough employing three or more members in its police and fire departments must establish a civil service commission. The commission has the power to provide examination of applicants for positions and promotions, establish minimum qualifications for positions, test applicants for appointment, and provide hearings in cases of dismissals or reductions in rank. There are to be three appointed Civil Service Commissioners and three alternates.

The board of appeals shall hear and rule on appeals, requests for variances and requests for extensions of time. An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of the act or Uniform Construction Code has been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of the act or Uniform Construction Code do not fully apply or an equivalent form of construction is to be used.

The Zoning Hearing Board was established to hear appeals on the validity of the zoning ordinances and has the power to grant variances and special exceptions to the ordinance.