Boards, Commissions and Committees Information
We are thrilled by your interest to become involved in our community. All interested residents must complete a Boards, Commissions and Committees application. Once an application is received, they will be reviewed by City Clerk Barnaby and Mayor McEachern for consideration.
Applications may be returned in-person to the Office of the City Clerk or emailed to CityClerk@cityofportsmouth.com.
Have questions? Contact the Mayor's Office, or Office of the City Clerk.
Boards, Commissions and Committees Application
- Elected Board/Commission – Governed by the City Charter
- Quasi-Judicial Board or Commission – Governed by state law (RSAs), City Charter, and City Ordinance
- Council Subcommittee – Governed by Council Motions
- Standing Committee – Governed by City Ordinance
- Mayor’s Blue-Ribbon Committee – Governed by Council Motions, renewed (or sunset) by every new Council
- Regulatory/Technical Committee – Governed by Federal and/or State Law (RSAs), City Charter, City Ordinance, and/or Quasi-Judicial Committee Rules
- Others – Governed by either State Law, Charters/Rules, or Bylaws
Interested in serving on a Board, Committee, or Commission?
Jump to
Archived Boards, Committees or Commissions Regional Area Boards with City Representation
Active Boards, Committees, and Commissions
A - L
Arts & Cultural Commission
Mission: to encourage support for arts and culture within the wider Portsmouth community
Audit Committee
Mission: to recommend an external auditor to the City Council, advise and work with the City Council on fiscal oversight.
Building Code Board of Appeals
Mission: to hear and decide appeals relative to the application and interpretation of the various city adopted construction codes.
Cable and Broadband Internet Commission
Mission: to establish standing subcommittees on matters pertaining to the operation and performance of cable companies within the City.
Cemetery Committee
Mission: to encourage the restoration, preservation, and safeguarding of Portsmouth's historic cemeteries and their history for future generations.
Citizens Advisory Committee
Mission: to advise the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, emerging community needs, and facilitate public involvement in the CDBG program planning process.
Citywide Neighborhood Committee
Mission: to advocate for the neighborhoods in Portsmouth, guided by two basic principles: protection and preservation of the quality of our neighborhoods.
Conservation Commission
Mission: to protect and properly utilize the City's natural resources.
Demolition Committee
Mission: to provide a local review process for proposed demolition of privately-owned buildings and structures of historic, architectural, and cultural value.
Economic Development Commission
Mission: to ensure continued economic prosperity and preservation of the qualities that attract and retain businesses in the community.
Fee Schedule Study Committee
Mission: to review municipal fees annually.
Governance Committee
Mission: to review the City Charter, Council Ordinances, Council Rules, and Council Policies and report back to the City Council on any recommended alterations to those documents.
Historic District Commission
Mission: to review exterior changes to buildings and structures located within the Historic District.
Historical Archives
Mission: to properly archive Historical Documents relating to the City of Portsmouth.
Housing Authority
Mission: to provide quality housing to people with low and very low incomes; ensures that all residents pay fair and reasonable rents; promotes fair housing to people of all ethnic backgrounds, ages and abilities.
Housing Blue Ribbon Committee
Mission: to expand the housing supply, especially affordable units, in the City of Portsmouth.
Legislative Subcommittee
Mission: to meet regularly with our Senator and Representatives to review legislation of interest to the City.
Board of Library Trustees
Mission: to determine objectives that will result in the continuing growth and improvement of Library services and establish policies to attain these objectives.
M - Z
Municipal Building Blue Ribbon Committee
Mission: to explore and recommend to the City Council investments in the Municipal Building, including the police facility.
Parking and Traffic Safety Committee
Mission: to address all traffic safety issues within the City of Portsmouth, including signs, traffic lights, striping, plan reviews of new development, and other pedestrian/vehicular-related problems.
Planning Board
Mission: to act on Site Review, Subdivisions, Lot Line Relocation, City Council Referrals and Conditional Use Permits.
Portsmouth Energy Advisory Committee
Mission: to research the risks and opportunities of a Community Power program for Portsmouth.
Portsmouth Housing Endowment Fund Board
Mission: to formulate policies regarding the operation of the City's first-time homebuyer's program, HomeTown.
Prescott Park Master Plan Implementation Committee
Mission: to advise the City Manager with respect to park policies, events, activities, and services; and the operation of licensees and to serve as a communication forum.
Public Art Review Committee
Mission: to assist the City in reviewing proposals for public art and conducting practical assessments of the feasibility of installing and maintaining such art works in the public sphere.
Recreation Board
Mission: to assist the Recreation Department in planning a citywide recreation program. The Board advises the City Manager and City Council regarding recreational needs.
Safe Water Advisory Group
Mission: to review and communicate the latest science on the health and environmental effects of PFAS, to monitor federal and state level legislative changes, and to anticipate policy changes that could impact the City.
Skateboard Park Blue Ribbon Committee
Sister Cities Blue Ribbon Committee
The City of Portsmouth is a member of Sister Cities International. Portsmouth also has other international relationships with cities through the Friendship Cities Program.
Site Review Technical Advisory Committee
Mission: to review Site Review Applications for the Planning Board and make recommendations to the Planning Board. The Planning Board acts on all Site Review applications.
Sustainability Committee
Mission: to increase awareness of the importance and value of sustainable practices among Portsmouth residents, business owners, and other stakeholders.
Trees & Public Greenery Committee
Mission: to advise and assist the City’s Tree Warden to ensure the proper expansion, protection and maintenance of the City’s Urban Forest.
Board of Trustees of Trust Funds
Mission: to have the fiduciary responsibility for the City's Trust Funds and oversee the management and operations of Prescott Park under the guidelines of the Prescott Trust.
Veterans Organization
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Mission: to rule on requests for Variances and Special Exceptions from the Zoning Ordinance as well as Appeals from Administrative Decisions.
Regional Boards with City Representation
COAST
The Mayor appoints a City Council representative to serve as a liaison with the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST).
Pease Development Authority
Mission: to oversee core operations at Pease.
Rockingham Planning Commission
Seacoast Metropolitan Planning Organization - Technical Advisory
Sunset Boards, Committees, or Commissions.
Arts & Nonprofits Committee
Mission: to support the arts and non-profits who make up Portsmouth's cultural economy.
Cultural Plan Subcommittee
Mission: to create a new Cultural Plan for the City of Portsmouth.
Building Commission
COVID Response Task Force
Mission: to evaluate challenges and identify low-cost, high-impact recovery solutions that use ARPA monies.
Peirce Island Committee
Land Use Committee
Mission: to review all current zoning and policies surrounding housing and development to encourage sustainable, diverse, and affordable development including expanded multi modal transportation.
McIntyre Public Process Blue Ribbon Steering Committee
Mission: to oversee and implement a public process in coordination with the City Staff and assemble the priorities and principles resulting from the process to report back to the City Council.
Portsmouth Economic Development Loan Program Board
Mission: to assist City staff in reviewing CDBG-funded loan applications and making decisions on loans applied for under the City's for-profit and non-profit loan programs.
Prescott Park Policy Advisory Committee
Renewable Energy Policy Blue Ribbon Committee
The Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Renewable Energy Committee was charged to report back to the City Council for adopting a phased Renewable Energy Policy to be implemented by City Staff when applicable.
Strategic Planning Committee for Vaughan-Worth-Bridge Revitalization
Mission: to develop options for future use of City-owned property in these areas and report back to the City Council with strategic recommendations as to how the City can best use its property in service to the community.