Openings Offer Chance to Join County Government

Do you have a desire to serve? Been wanting to get involved with county governing? The Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners needs you. Below are a list of county boards and council groups that are looking for applicants. These are voluntary positions, and members serve without compensation. Applicants may apply to more than one board, but may only serve on one board at a time. All applications are due June 7. Appointments will be scheduled for a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners in June or July 2012.

Application are available in the Commissioners’ reception area on the second floor of County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa; by calling the Boards and Councils Coordinator at 813-272-5826; or on the County’s website at: www.hillsboroughcounty.org. The form can be filled out, and then scanned and emailed, faxed, hand-delivered or mailed.

The Boards and Councils that have openings are:

CHILD CARE FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD -- advises the Board of County Commissioners on recommended amendments to the Child Care Facilities Ordinance; proposes additional rules and regulations to the Board of County Commissioners which effectuate the intent and purpose of the Ordinance; and recommends and assists the Hillsborough County Office of Child Care Licensing in the development and implementation of training materials for child care personnel. It also advises the Hillsborough County Office of Child Care Licensing on all matters pertaining to child care facilities. Two positions are vacant. Terms are for three years. Positions are specified as: 1) a representative of a non-profit licensed child care facility or organization; and 2) a parent of a child in a child care facility. (Please note this on your application.) Appointment to this Board is contingent upon passing a criminal background check.

Meeting schedule: Monthly, 1st Thursday, 1 p.m.

CHILD CARE LICENSING HEARING OFFICER -- pursuant to the Hillsborough County Child Care Homes Licensing Ordinance 05-9, and the Hillsborough County Child Care Facilities Ordinance 03-25, as amended by Hillsborough County Ordinance 04-25, an applicant for a license or a current licensee, under these ordinances, may request a hearing whenever an application for a license is denied, or whenever a license has been placed on probation, suspended or revoked, or an administrative fine has been imposed by the Office of Child Care Licensing. These hearings are conducted by a hearing officer who makes findings and recommendations with respect to the matters considered at the hearing. Two positions are vacant; one due to resignation. One term is for three years. One position is for the remainder of an unexpired term, which ends 9/30/2014. Hearing Officers must be members in good standing of the Florida Bar and may not be employees of the County Attorney’s Office. Appointment as a Hearing Officer is contingent upon passing a criminal background check.

Meeting schedule: When requested.

CHILDRENS SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD -- examines and advises division management on the development and operation of programs that treat children with special needs. The Board also advises on parent training programs, homeless and runaway youth programs, domestic violence programs, child care licensing, clinical outreach, and residential treatment programs for children in Hillsborough County. Seven terms are expiring. Terms are for four years. Nominees are to have a demonstrated interest in the welfare of children. Appointment to this Board is contingent upon passing a criminal background check.

Meeting schedule: At least nine times annually.

CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD -- has jurisdiction to hear violations of all codes and ordinances of Hillsborough County with most cases arising out of violations of the County’s housing, building, zoning, and sign codes and ordinances to maintain minimum health and safety standards. One position is vacant. Term is for three years. Position is specified as an alternate. Consideration for membership shall be given to representatives from the following fields: a businessperson; an architect; a general contractor; a subcontractor; and a realtor. After two consecutive terms, a member shall not be eligible for reappointment until one calendar year has elapsed from date of termination of the second term. Citizens appointed to this Board will be required to file an annual financial disclosure. Citizens appointed to this Board must reside in the unincorporated area of Hillsborough County.

Meeting schedule: Monthly, generally 2nd or 3rd Friday, 9 a.m.

ELECTRICAL BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, APPEALS & EXAMINERS -- confirms the competency and integrity of applicants applying for electrical certification in the County, and takes disciplinary action against those contractors that fail to comply with the Electrical Code. One position is vacant due to resignation. Position is for the remainder of an unexpired term, which ends Dec. 31, 2013. Position is specified as an electrical utility company representative. Citizens appointed to this  Board will be required to file an annual financial disclosure.

Meeting schedule: Quarterly, 3rd Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME ADVISORY BOARD -- annually reviews and advises the Board of County Commissioners on recommended amendments to the Family Child Care Homes Licensing Ordinance or the Rules and Regulations Handbook, including recommending and assisting the local licensing agency in the development and implementation of training materials for child care personnel; advising the local licensing agency on matters of licensing policy, procedure and priorities; and proposes additional rules and regulations regarding the intent and purpose of the ordinance. Three positions are vacant. Terms are for three years. Positions are specified as: 1) a licensed family child care home operator; and 2) & 3) a parent who has a child enrolled in a licensed family day care home. (Please note this on your application.) Appointment to this Board is contingent upon passing a criminal background check.

Meeting schedule: Quarterly, 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.

HEALTH CARE ADVISORY BOARD -- improves accessibility and efficiency of care for medically poor residents of Hillsborough County through recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners for fund allocation, coordination, planning, and monitoring of health care delivery systems. Two terms are expiring. Terms are for four years. Positions are specified as: 1) a non-healthcare business community representative; and 2) a participant in the Hillsborough County Indigent Health Care Plan.

Meeting schedule: Monthly, 3rd Thursday, 3 p.m.

HISTORIC RESOURCES REVIEW BOARD -- serves as an architectural review board for the protection of historic resources in unincorporated Hillsborough County. It recommends archaeological and historical sites to the Board of County Commissioners for landmark designation and reviews alterations and new construction on landmark sites or districts. Two positions are vacant and one term is expiring. Terms are for three years. Positions are specified as: 1) an architectural historian; 2) an architect; and 3) a property owner of a site listed on the Florida Master Site File. After two consecutive terms, a member shall not be eligible for reappointment until one calendar year has elapsed from date of termination of the second term. Citizens appointed to this Board must reside in the unincorporated area of Hillsborough County.

Meeting schedule: Monthly, 3rd Tuesday, 3 p.m.

HOSPITAL AUTHORITY -- monitors the lease entered into in 1997 with Florida Health Sciences Center, Inc., which permits FHSC to occupy the Authority’s Davis Island property and transfers ownership and operation of Tampa General Hospital. Monitoring the hospital’s overall condition, indigent and charity care reports and Minority Business Enterprise contract participation, and reviewing citizen grievances who feel they were denied care due to the inability to pay are the primary obligations of the Authority. Five terms are expiring. Terms are for four years. Citizens appointed to this Authority will be required to file an annual financial disclosure.

Meeting schedule: Quarterly, generally 4th Monday, 9 a.m.

LAND USE APPEALS BOARD -- hears appeals of decisions of the Land Use Hearing Officer on special use permits and variances from zoning regulations. One term has expired. Term is for three years. Consideration for membership shall be given to representatives from the following fields: a landscape architect or architect registered to practice in Florida; a business owner or operator in unincorporated Hillsborough County; a professional planner with not less than three years of experience in land use planning or zoning in Hillsborough County; a civil or environmental engineer registered to practice in Florida; or a developer active in development in Hillsborough County or a duly licensed general contractor (Class A) active in business in Hillsborough County. After two consecutive terms, a member shall not be eligible for reappointment until one calendar year has elapsed from date of termination of the second term. Citizens appointed to this Board will be required to file an annual financial disclosure. Citizens appointed to this Board must reside in the unincorporated area of Hillsborough County.

Meeting schedule: Monthly, 1st Friday, 1 p.m., as needed.

VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD -- was created by F.S. 194 to provide citizens a forum to address complaints when they believe the Property Appraiser has over assessed their property or improperly denied an exemption or classification, or the Tax Collector improperly denied a tax deferral. The Board hires qualified attorneys and appraisers to conduct hearings on these complaints and make recommendations. The Board meets to act on these recommendations. One term is expiring. Term is for one year. Position is specified as a citizen who owns homesteaded property in Hillsborough County. Citizen members shall be appointed in a manner to avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest. Citizen members must not be a member or employee of any taxing authority in this state and may not be a person who represents property owners, property appraisers, tax collectors, or taxing authorities in any administrative or judicial review of property taxes.

Meeting schedule: Five to seven times per year.

WATER CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE -- makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding water conservation issues. Seven positions are vacant. Terms are for three years.

Meeting schedule: Quarterly.

For more information on these board openings, call the Boards and Councils Coordinator at 813-272-5826