The following is a listing of all of the current City of Rockville boards and commissions. The Mayor and Council also commission committees and task forces to work on special projects for a short period of time. Contact the City Clerk's Office at 240-314-8280 for an updated listing.
See also: Rockville has numerous groups that work with the Mayor and Council, as well as City staff, to benefit the community. These groups are not officially listed in the City Code, but are an important part of the public stakeholder process. |
The Board consists of three members appointed by the Mayor and Council, one of whom shall be appointed chairperson by the Mayor, subject to the confirmation by the Council. In addition, there are two alternate members who are empowered to sit on the Board in the absence of any member or members of the Board. The Chairperson shall designate which alternate member shall sit on the Board if only one member of the Board is absent. In the absence of the alternate or both alternates, the Council may designate a temporary alternate. Members serve for three years, or until a successor takes office. At least one member shall be a veterinarian or shall have training and/or experience in the proper training and care of animals. The Board mediates petitions; provides written recommendations to the Chief of Police and animal review official as requested; provides education and counseling on responsible ownership, maintenance and treatment of animals; and provides advice and recommendations to the Mayor and Council on matters related to the care, training, maintenance and regulation of animals within the City. (Chapter 3, Rockville City Code) This is a three member body, whose members are appointed by the Mayor with the confirmation of the Council. The body elects its own Chairperson. Members serve for overlapping three-year terms. The Board is charged with the responsibility of hearing and deciding all appeals and applications for variances and special exceptions, as provided for in the Zoning Ordinance or other ordinance of the City of Rockville. (Chapter 25, Rockville City Code). This is a five member body with members appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council. The Board elects its own Chairperson. Members’ terms are for four years and run until their successors are appointed and qualified. The Board is charged with the conduct of all City elections, the registration of voters, and the keeping of records in connection with these functions. (Chapter 8, Rockville City Code and Article III, Charter of the City of Rockville) The Charter Review Commission was created by the Mayor and Council in April 2012 to examine the City of Rockville's Charter and other laws as they relate to the City's election process and to make recommendations regarding any changes that may be needed. The Compensation Commission determines the annual compensation for the five elected officials of the City. There are five members of the Commission who must be residents of the City or have a place of business in the City. Terms are staggered (initial appointments for two, four and six years) and begin on December 31 of the year in which they are appointed and run for six years or until their successors are appointed and qualified. This is an 11-member body, appointed by the Mayor with the confirmation of the Council. Members serve for overlapping two year terms. The Commission is responsible for encouraging the arts and culture in the City for the benefit of Rockville citizens and recommending to the Mayor and Council appropriate programs, activities and utilization policies of the City facilities, which will add to the further development of Rockville as a cultural center. (Chapter 4, Rockville City Code) The Environment Commission is a nine-member body with backgrounds in science, the environment and education, as well as a student member. Members serve without compensation for terms of three years from the date of appointment and may be appointed to succeeding terms. Vacancies occurring prior to the expiration of the term of a member are filled for the unexpired portion of the term by an appointment by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. One member of the Commission will be appointed Chairperson by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, to serve for a term of one-year and thereafter until a successor takes office. The Commission will be responsible for a work program that will include recommending policies and procedures relating to the environment, watershed stewardship and protection and promoting a sustainable community through initiatives relating to natural resource management and development, energy efficiency, pollution and public education. The Commission is also be charged with providing feedback and recommendations regarding areas for improvement of the City’s environmental programs and performance as requested by the Mayor and Council and maintaining a list of expert contacts in the local community who can be utilized to advise the City on topics related to the environment as they arise. The Financial Advisory Board was established in February 2013. This five member board is appointed by the Mayor and is subject to confirmation by the Council. The board is charged with advising the Mayor and Council regarding financial matters, including the review of current financial policies, procedures and documents relating to City finances, and making recommendations to the Mayor and Council. Examples of board duties include: - Annual review of the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and the City's Financial Management Policies
- Review of the City's quarterly financial reports to assess whether spending and revenue collection are tracking with adopted and amended budgets
- Review and evaluation of the financial consequences of a program or proposal
- Review and report on matters such as bonding requests or the practices and/or policies of other jurisdictions.
The board members shall serve three-year staggered terms and will elect a chairperson from the appointed members to serve for a one year term. The board will consist of at least three residents of the City and any two others who, in the opinion of the Mayor and Council, can demonstrate a stakeholder position, ideally with at least one member from the Rockville business community. If possible, one member should be a certified public accountant licensed to practice or retired, and at least one other member should have experience with financial matters related to larger employers or governmental agencies. All members shall demonstrate experience directly in, or related to finance or accounting. Board members will be able to read and understand governmental financial statements sufficiently to be able to recognize inconsistencies and report on variances that require explanation and reporting to the Mayor and Council. The board will meet at least quarterly. The board may meet more frequently as needed by the Mayor and Council for special assignments or projects. Depending on the topic under review, there may be additional sub-committee time commitment necessary. Rockville Economic Development, Inc. was organized to maintain the City as a leading economic center and to expand the City’s tax base while sustaining an equitable balance between commercial and residential segments. The purpose is to promote the retention and expansion of businesses in the City, encourage the formation of new business enterprises, and attract new businesses to the City thereby creating, retaining and attracting jobs within the City. Rockville Economic Development, Inc. fosters education and communication between the business community and the general public, assembles, maintains and disseminates information on the business community, workforce and economy and promotes workforce development and a positive business climate within the City. The Board of Directors, which is appointed by the Mayor and Council, oversees the Rockville Economic Development, Inc. activities. The by-laws proscribe that there shall be at least ten, but no more than twenty-five members of the Board. This is a five-member body whose members represent a demonstrated special interest, experience, or knowledge in the fields of architecture, history, preservation or urban design. The mayor makes appointments with the confirmation of the council for three-year overlapping terms. The Commission is charged, under the provisions of Article 66B, Annotated Code of Maryland, and the City Zoning Ordinance, with recommending to the Mayor and Council the boundaries of the districts that are deemed to be of historic or architectural value in the City of Rockville, and in reviewing applications for construction, changes, etc., in the historic districts.(Chapter 25, Rockville City Code)
In addition to adjudicating housing and public accommodation and a limited number of employment discrimination complaints, this 11-member Commission oversees the City’s Community Mediation Program. Community mediators help to resolve disputes that may arise in the community including complaints of discrimination. Commissioners also distribute civil and human rights information, sponsor mediation training for neighborhood groups and Rockville schools and conduct workshops for the general public, students and business owners on topics such as fair housing, cultural diversity and human rights awareness. All commissioners are encouraged to participate in a City-sponsored mediation training workshop. Members serve over-lapping four year terms. (Chapter 11, Rockville City Code) This Commission provides advice and guidance to the Mayor and Council on human service needs in Rockville and how best to address them. The Commission monitors changes in human needs in the City, assists the Mayor and Council in deciding appropriate City roles and priorities concerning human services, and participates in oversight and evaluation to ensure accountability and cost-effectiveness of City and outside providers of human services. The Mayor and Council may also ask the Commission to study specific human service-related problems and complaints that have been brought to their attention. The Commission is composed of 11 individuals representing social service consumers, service providers and residents of the Rockville community. Members serve over-lapping three-year terms. This is a seven-member body with the members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. Terms run for three years. Two landlords, two tenants, and three people from the citizenry at large comprise the Commission. Tenants are prohibited from serving as at-large representatives. The Commission provides a forum for adjudicating differences or disputes between landlords and tenants. (Chapter 18, Rockville City Code). This is a three-member body whose members are appointed by the Mayor and Council. Members serve for overlapping four-year terms. The Board is charged, in accordance with the requirements of the Personnel Regulations, with hearing appeals filed by employees of the City of Rockville in cases of dismissal action taken by the City Manager for disciplinary reasons. (Chapter 15, Rockville City Code) This is a seven-member body, appointed by the Mayor with the confirmation of the Council. Terms of members are overlapping and run for five years. The body elects its own Chairperson. The Planning Commission is charged with formulating a Master Plan for the City of Rockville and revising the plan as necessary. The Commission also reviews and makes recommendations to the Mayor and Council on applications for map and text amendments; reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Appeals on all special exception applications; reviews and decides applications for use permits; reviews and approves all subdivision plans and initiates and conducts such other planning studies and functions as are necessary in the overall planning operation of the City. (Chapter 25, Rockville City Code) This is a nine-member body whose members are appointed by the Mayor with the confirmation of the Council. Members serve for overlapping two-year terms. The Board is charged with encouraging the development of desirable recreation and park facilities in the City and recommending those programs for young people and adults that suitably reflect the needs of the citizens. This is a five-member body whose members are appointed by the Mayor with the confirmation of the Council for three-year terms. The group elects its own Chairperson. Rockville Housing Enterprises is an independent body that functions under Federal and State law, but was created by the Mayor and Council for the purpose of investigating the need for building and administering such public housing in the City as is found to be necessary. (Office: 301-424-6265) 621 A Southlawn Lane, Rockville, Md. 20850.
The Rockville Scholarship Foundation provides scholarship assistance to students from the Rockville community with funding from the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, corporations, individuals, civic organizations, and Montgomery College.
The foundation has 13 directors who serve 3 year terms and are responsible for programs to raise funds for the scholarships as well as marketing the scholarships to the schools and students. The directors are composed of: four members appointed by the Rockville Chamber of Commerce; three members appointed by the Mayor and Council to represent the three Rockville area school clusters (Richard Montgomery/ Wootton/ Rockville); four members appointed by the Rockville Scholarship Foundation; and three members appointed by the President of Montgomery College. The Mayor and Council created this nonprofit corporation for the purpose of ensuring that the quality of life for all Rockville senior citizens is improved through a properly supported Senior Citizen Center and adequately funded social, recreational and educational programs. The corporation does this by generating positive interest from the community to raise funds to maintain and improve the Rockville Senior Center. The property and business of the corporation is managed under the direction of the RSI Board of Directors. Members of the RSI Board serve for one year, and no elected member may serve more than three consecutive terms. Members of the RSI Board are: an accountant and two citizens of Rockville appointed by the Mayor and Council; one senior citizen selected by the Senior Citizens Commission; and seven senior citizen members elected at the Annual Membership Meeting of RSI. This nonprofit corporation was organized to support educational and charitable programs and to provide a continuing relationship between the citizens of Rockville and of Pinneberg, Germany. In accordance with the by-laws, the Mayor and Council appoint three directors. The remaining directors are elected by membership. Terms are for three years and are staggered. The body was incorporated in June 1986, and membership in the corporation is open. This nine-member body appointed by the Mayor with the confirmation of the Council is charged with proposing programs, activities, legislation, etc., to meet the needs of senior citizens in Rockville and with conducting such studies as are necessary to determine those needs. Terms are for three years. (Resolutions No. 62, 69, 21,70 and 30,73)
Town Center Action Team (TCAT) grew out of Imagine Rockville, a visioning process that the City of Rockville conducted in 1996. The focus of the group, consisting of citizens and business owners, has been on the creation of a Town Center that reflects the diversity of our city. TCAT meetings are usually held on a bi monthly basis at varying public locations throughout Town Center or held at City Hall. This is a nine-member body appointed by the Mayor with the concurrence of the Council for two-year terms. The purpose of the body is to advise the Council and the Planning Commission on all traffic matters in the City and to make appropriate recommendations. (Resolution No. 28,72, Resolution No. 3,76, and 3-79) | 
