Boards and Commissions

The Recreation Board consists of 7-9 members appointed by Borough Council. The Recreation Board plans and executes many events in the Borough. Some examples include 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. The Recreation Board also functions in an advisory capacity to Borough Council with regards to future recreation events. The Recreation Board meets once per month on the 2nd Monday of the month from 7:00pm-8:00pm. 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. Some accomplishments and highlights of the Recreation Board in 2020 include hosting the first ever socially distanced Movie in the Park, introducing a story stroll in Dormont Park, sponsoring a Halloween Decorating Contest and holding a pumpkin craft giveaway at the Dormont Dine Outside event.

The Borough of Dormont hereby establishes a Commission to be known as the “Safe Mobility Commission,” which shall: aid Council in determining: • Which areas within the Borough of Dormont are most in need of mobility changes and/or improvements, • Help guide the direction of the Borough of Dormont’s urban planning to focus on making roadways and sidewalks safer for all ages and abilities, utilizing any and all modes of travel, • Be dedicated to improving equitable mobility within the Borough of Dormont, • Promote pedestrian and micro-mobility centric practices in urban planning projects, and • Establish a method of obtaining information from residents about mobility concerns.

Purpose and Declaration of Policy A. Foster the employment of all individuals in accordance with their fullest capacities regardless of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status, ancestry, religious creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, marital status, familial status, genetic information, handicap or disability, or use of an assistance animal to enjoy the full benefits of being a resident of the Borough and to safeguard their right to obtain and hold employment without such discrimination; 1. To secure housing accommodation and commercial property without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status, ancestry, religious creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, marital status, familial status, genetic information, handicap or disability, or use of an assistance animal to enjoy the full benefits of being a resident of the Borough; and 2. To assure equal opportunities to all individuals and to safeguard their right to public accommodation 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. B. It is the intention of this chapter that all persons be treated fairly and equally, and it is the express intent of this chapter to guarantee fair and equal treatment under the law to all people of Borough of Dormont. C. This chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of Borough of Dormont for the protection of the public peace, prosperity, health and welfare of its residents and the Borough of Dormont community. D. 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 by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

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.